If a defense of insanity or mental illness has been presented during a trial, the court shall provide the jury with a special verdict form of “guilty but mentally ill” for each offense. The court shall instruct the jury that a special verdict of “guilty but mentally ill” may be returned instead of a general verdict. The court shall also instruct the jury that the special verdict requires a finding beyond a reasonable doubt by the jury that the defendant committed the offense but that he was mentally ill at the time he committed the offense.

Terms Used In South Dakota Codified Laws 23A-25-13

  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • Verdict: includes not only the verdict of a jury, but also the finding upon the facts of a judge, or of a referee appointed to determine the issues in a cause. See South Dakota Codified Laws 2-14-2
  • Verdict: The decision of a petit jury or a judge.

Source: SL 1983, ch 174, § 13; SL 1988, ch 191.