Section 277: Pleas: autrefois acquit or convict, pardon

(1) A defendant against whom a charge or information is filed may plead that:
(a) by virtue of section 238 of this Act he is not liable to be tried for the offence with which he is charged; or
(b) he has obtained a pardon for his offence.
(2) Where either of the pleas under subsection (1) of this section is raised in any case and denied to be true in fact, the court shall determine whether such plea is true in fact or not.
(3) Where the court holds that the facts alleged by the defendant do not prove the plea, or if it finds that it is false in fact, the defendant shall be required to plead to the charge or information.
(4) Nothing in this section shall prevent a defendant from pleading that, by virtue of some other provision of law, he is not liable to be prosecuted or tried for an offence with which he is charged.