58Pleas in summary hearing

58 Pleas in summary hearing (1) If a charge in respect of an offence is to be heard and determined summarily in the Youth Justice Court, the youth who is charged with an offence must enter a plea: (a) at the commencement of the hearing; or (b) if the proceeding began as a preliminary examination but the youth elects under section 56A to have the charge heard and determined summarily – on the continuation of the proceeding as a summary hearing. (2) If the youth pleads guilty to a charge in respect of an offence, the Court may, at any stage of the proceedings, if it is of the opinion that the youth may not be guilty of the offence charged, order that the plea of guilty be withdrawn and a plea of not guilty be entered. (3) If the Court makes an order under subsection (2), the youth is not entitled to plead autrefois convict by reason of his or her initial plea of guilty. (4) A youth may change his or her plea from not guilty to guilty at any stage of proceedings. (5) Subsection (4) does not apply in relation to a plea entered under subsection (2).