State v. Alidani, 609 N.W.2d 152 (S.D. 2000)

Cases | State v. Alidani, 609 N.W.2d 152 (S.D. 2000) | 2018

The defendant was convicted of sexual contact with a minor. On appeal, the defendant claimed that the trial court abused its discretion in permitting the victim-witness assistant to sit beside the victim and hold her hand during testimony. The supreme court held that the trial court did not abuse its discretion. There was no evidence in the record of any influence on the victim’s testimony attributable to the assistant’s presence. It appeared from the record that the assistant acted properly in solely being present in the courtroom as support for the victim and did not act or speak in a suggestive manner.