South Dakota Alibi Instruction is a legal term that refers to a defense strategy employed in criminal cases. An alibi is a claim made by the defendant that they were not present at the crime scene when the alleged offense took place. The purpose of introducing an alibi instruction is to provide evidence supporting the defendant's claim of being in a different location during the time of the offense. In South Dakota, the standard jury instruction for alibi is defined in South Dakota Pattern Jury Instruction (SDPJ) 2-52-19. This instruction is used when the defendant introduces evidence of an alibi and requests a specific jury instruction to inform the jury about the law regarding alibi. The South Dakota Alibi Instruction is divided into several elements. The first element instructs the jury that it is the prosecution's burden to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant was present at the crime scene. The second element informs the jury that if they have a reasonable doubt about the defendant's presence at the scene, they should find the defendant not guilty. The third element explains that the defendant's alibi evidence, if credible and reasonable, can establish a reasonable doubt. It is important to note that the South Dakota Alibi Instruction may vary depending on the specific facts and circumstances of the case. For instance, if the alibi is based on the testimony of another person, a different set of instructions may be used to guide the jury in assessing the credibility of the witness. In some instances, South Dakota may use additional variations of the alibi instruction, such as SDPJ 2-52-19.1, which deals with the situation when the defendant claims to have been at a particular place but does not name any witnesses. SDPJ 2-52-19.2 is used when the defendant provides alibi evidence, but the prosecution alleges that the defendant intentionally produced false evidence. In conclusion, South Dakota Alibi Instruction is a legal guideline provided to the jury when the defendant presents evidence supporting their claim of being in a different location than the crime scene during the alleged offense. It assists the jury in assessing the credibility of the alibi evidence and guides their decision-making process when determining the defendant's guilt or innocence.