Admission of accused persons for observation

(1) Whenever a judge or a magistrate has reason to believe that a person committed for trial before the Supreme Court or charged before him with an offence, as the case may be, is of 24 unsound mind, he may, for the purpose of obtaining evidence as to whether that person is or is not of unsound mind, by written order direct that that person be received into the Mental Hospital at Rockville and be there detained under observation during such period, not exceeding fourteen days, as to the judge or the magistrate may seem expedient. (2) An order under this section may, on good cause shown, be enlarged for a further period or periods each not exceeding eight days at a time, and no order under this subsection shall be made in respect of any person not in custody pending trial. (3) Every person ordered under this section to be detained in the Mental Hospital for observation shall be received and detained therein for the purpose of observation during the period stated in the order or such shorter period as the judge or the magistrate may direct.