On the trial of a person for a criminal offense or on the examination of a person charged therewith before a Criminal Division of the Superior Court, on the request of the prosecuting attorney or the party accused, the court shall have the witnesses examined separately and apart from each other. (Amended 1965, No. 194, § 10, operative February 1, 1967; 1973, No. 249 (Adj. Sess.), § 54, eff. April 9, 1974; 2009, No. 154, § 238.)