If evidence and advice, specific issues. 3. The Defence defence Office counsel and appearing shall ensure and persons before the Chamber that there entitled to are legal in respect adequate of facilities to assistance in the preparation of a case, and shall provide any additional assistance ordered by a Judge or Chamber. 4. The Defence Office shall be headed by a Principal Defender, who shall be appointed by the Assembly, and shall be a person of high moral character and possess the highest level of professional competence and extensive experience in the defence of criminal cases. He shall be admitted to the practice of law in a recognised jurisdiction and shall have practised criminal law before a national or international criminal court for a minimum of ten years. 5. The Principal Defender shall, in order to ensure that the fair trial rights of suspects and accused are protected, adopt such regulations and practice directions as may be necessary to effectively carry out the functions of the Defence Office. 6. The Principal Defender shall be assisted by such other staff as maybe required to perform the functions of the Defence Office effectively and efficiently. The staff of the Defence Office shall be appointed by the Principal Defender in accordance with the Staff Rules and Regulations of the African Union. Te The Principal Defender shall, for all purposes connected with pre-trial, trial and appellate proceedings, enjoy equal status with the Prosecutor in respect of rights of audience and negotiations inter partes. 8. At the request of a Judge or Chamber, the Registry, Defence or where the interests of justice so require, proprio motu, the Principal Defender or a person designated by him shall have rights of audience in relation to matters of general interest to defence teams, proceedings or the rights of a suspect or accused. the fairness of the Article 12Bis Conditions of Service of the Registrar and Members of the Registry Article 24 of the Statute (Conditions of Service of the Registrar and Members of the Registry) is deleted.