The court shall grant the motion of the petitioner for a new trial if the DNA test results, when considered with all other evidence in the case, establish by compelling evidence that a new trial would result in the acquittal of the felony offense, as referenced in § 23-5B-1, for which the petitioner is under a sentence of imprisonment.

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Terms Used In South Dakota Codified Laws 23-5B-16

  • Acquittal:
    1. Judgement that a criminal defendant has not been proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
    2. A verdict of "not guilty."
     
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.

Source: SL 2009, ch 120, § 16.