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Clause 224

sets out the requirements for a compulsory opening address by the prosecutor. If documents have been served and filed by the prosecution under Part 5.5 (pre-trial procedure), the prosecutor must restrict themselves to the matters set out in those documents, unless the trial judge allows a departure from those documents. However, the prosecutor is not restricted to a verbatim presentation of the summary of the prosecution opening. A departure from pre-trial documents can only be allowed in exceptional circumstances, which does not include a change of legal practitioner. The court may limit the length of the opening address.