<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta charset="UTF-8" /><meta http-equiv='content-language' content='en-us'/><title>SDLRC - Codified Law 23A-22-12 - Dying declarations defined--Admissibility in homicide prosecutions--Admissibility for defense. </title><meta name="Generator" content="PowerTools for Open XML" /><style>span { white-space: pre-wrap; } p.s2048690Normal { margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; } span.s2048690SENU { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2048690CL { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } p.s2048690Normal-000000 { margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; text-indent: 0.50in; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; } span.s2048690DefaultParagraphFont { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } p.s2048690Normal-000001 { margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; } span.s2048690000002 { font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2048690SCL { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2048690SCL-000003 { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } body { text-decoration-skip-ink: none; } </style></head><body><div><p dir="ltr" class="s2048690Normal"><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&amp;Statute=23A-22-12"><span class="s2048690SENU">23A-22-12</span></a><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2048690SENU">. </span><span class="s2048690CL">Dying declarations defined--Admissibility in homicide prosecutions--Admissibility for defense.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2048690Normal-000000"><span class="s2048690DefaultParagraphFont">Dying declarations are statements of material facts concerning the cause and circumstances constituting the res gestae of any felony made by the victim voluntarily while not mentally ill and under the fixed and solemn belief that his death is inevitable and near at hand.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2048690Normal-000001"><span class="s2048690DefaultParagraphFont">In all prosecutions for manslaughter or murder, all dying declarations are always admissible in evidence, if the deceased would have been a competent witness if living.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2048690Normal-000001"><span class="s2048690DefaultParagraphFont">All such declarations are also admissible in behalf of the defense.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2048690Normal"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2048690000002"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2048690Normal"><span class="s2048690SCL">Source:</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2048690SCL-000003"> SDC 1939 &amp; Supp 1960, § 34.3632; SDCL, § </span><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&amp;Statute=23-44-4"><span class="s2048690SCL-000003">23-44-4</span></a><span class="s2048690SCL-000003">; SL 1975, ch 169, § 7; SL 1976, ch 324; SL 1978, ch 178, § 283.</span></p></div></body></html>