State v. Fields

HENDERSON, Justice.

PROCEDURAL HISTORY/ISSUES/HOLDING

On March 11, 1991, a Minnehaha County jury found Fields guilty of First Degree Manslaughter, in violation of SDCL 22-16-15(3), a Class 2 felony. On May 15, 1991, the circuit court, Second Judicial Circuit, entered a judgment under which Fields was sentenced to sixty-five years in the state penitentiary. Fields filed his notice of appeal from that judgment on May 17, 1991.

Fields raises the following issues on appeal:

1. Did reference by the State during cross-examination and closing argument to Fields’ post-arrest silence violate Fields’ due…