The accused may challenge peremptorily, in any criminal trial before the Superior Court for any offense punishable by death or life imprisonment without the possibility of release, twenty-five jurors; for any offense punishable by life imprisonment, fifteen jurors; for any offense the punishment for which may be imprisonment for more than one year and for less than life, six jurors; and for any other offense, three jurors. In any criminal trial in which the accused is charged with more than one count on the information or where there is more than one information, the number of challenges is determined by the count carrying the highest maximum punishment. The state, on the trial of any criminal prosecution, may challenge peremptorily the same number of jurors as the accused.