118. Procedure after plea of "Not Guilty".-After the plea of "Not Guilty" to any charge is recorded, the evidence for the prosecution shall be taken. At the close of the evidence for the prosecution, the accused shall be asked if he has anything to say in his defence, and may address the Court in his defence, or may defer such address until he has called his witnesses. The Court may question the accused on the case for the purpose of enabling him to explain any circumstances appearing in his statement or in the evidence against him. The accused shall not render himself liable to punishment by refusing to answer such questions, or by giving answers to them which he knows not to be true; but [* * *]. No oath shall be administered to the accused.
The accused may then call his witnesses, including also witnesses to character.
