Preliminary Examination: Procedure

At the preliminary examination, the court shall take evidence in the same manner as at trial. Witnesses shall be examined in the presence of the defendant. The defendant may cross-examine witnesses against him and may introduce evidence in his own behalf. Objections to the admissibility of evidence may be taken on any grounds that would be available at trial. While a witness is under examination, the court may exclude all witnesses who have not been examined. The court may also cause the witnesses to be kept separate, and to be prevented from conversing with each other until they are all examined. The court shall, upon the request of the defendant, exclude from the examination every person except the court clerk, the court reporter, the court bailiff, a witness while he is testifying, the prosecuting attorney, the investigating officer, the defendant and his counsel, the officer, if any, having the defendant in custody and the officer having custody of a prisoner while the prisoner is testifying. Nothing in this Subsection shall affect the right to exclude witnesses as provided in Subsection (b). Notwithstanding Subsection (c), when the witness who is testifying is a person less than 18 years old, the witness shall be entitled to have an adult of the same sex in the courtroom.