23A-22-5. Burden of proof as to mitigation or excuse in homicide prosecution.
In prosecutions for murder, after the prosecution has proved that a defendant committed the homicide, the burden of proving circumstances of mitigation, or that justify or excuse it, passes to the defendant, unless the proof of the prosecution shows that the crime committed only amounts to manslaughter or that the defendant was justified or excused.
Source: Supreme Court Rule 402, 1939; SDC 1939 & Supp 1960, §34.3642; SDCL, §23-44-15; SL 1978, ch 178, §289.
Structure South Dakota Codified Laws
Title 23A - Criminal Procedure
Section 23A-22-2 - Civil rules applicable except as provided.
Section 23A-22-3 - Innocence presumed--Reasonable doubt requires acquittal.
Section 23A-22-4 - Facts put in issue by not guilty plea.
Section 23A-22-5 - Burden of proof as to mitigation or excuse in homicide prosecution.
Section 23A-22-6 - Defendant's right to testify--No presumption from failure to testify.
Section 23A-22-7 - Discharge of defendant to testify against codefendant.
Section 23A-22-8 - Corroboration of accomplice's testimony required for conviction.
Section 23A-22-10 - (Rule 27) Proof of official record or lack of record.
Section 23A-22-11 - (Rule 28) Appointment and compensation of interpreter.
Section 23A-22-13 - Overt acts required for conspiracy conviction.
Section 23A-22-16 - Proof of marriages in bigamy prosecutions.