Rule 37.57. Presence of Defendant – When Required

(a) No trial shall be conducted or a plea of guilty entered unless the defendant is present, except the court, the prosecuting attorney, and the defendant may agree that the defendant need not be present.

(b) A verdict may be received by the court in the absence of the defendant when such absence is voluntary.

(c) If there is a record entry showing that the defendant was present at the commencement or at any stage of the trial, it shall be presumed, in the absence of any record entry to the contrary, that he was present during the entire trial.