Section 259: Public to have access to hearing

(1) Subject to the provisions of sections 232, 260 to 262 of this Act and of any other law specifically relating thereto, the room or place in which a trial is to take place under this Act shall be an open court to which the public generally may have access as far as it can conveniently contain them.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, the Judge or Magistrate presiding over a trial may, in his discretion and subject to the provisions of section 260 of this Act, exclude the public at any stage of the hearing on the grounds of public policy, decency or expedience.
(3) Where the court is sitting in a place other than in a building, the authority given in subsection (2) of this section to exclude the public shall be construed as being authority to prevent the public approaching so near to where the court is sitting, as in the opinion of the Judge or Magistrate, to be able to hear what is taking place at the trial or be able to communicate with a person allowed to be present.