Procedure on verdict of guilty

(1) If the jury finds a verdict of guilty, the accused person shall be asked whether he has any matter of law to urge why sentence should not be passed upon him. (2) If any such matter is urged by the accused person or his counsel, the court may either decide it forthwith, or reserve it for further consideration, and in such latter event it shall reserve sentence until the matter of law has been finally decided. (3) If the court decides the matter of law against the accused person, it shall pronounce sentence.