Opinion ID: 1815282
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: did the state adequately corroborate the testimony of accomplice plucker?

Text: SDCL 23A-22-8 provides: A conviction cannot be had upon the testimony of an accomplice unless it is corroborated by other evidence which tends to connect the defendant with the commission of the offense. The corroboration is not sufficient if it merely shows the commission of the offense, or the circumstances thereof. In State v. Rauscher, 267 N.W.2d 582, 583-84 (S.D.1978), we explained that this statute does not require that corroborative evidence be produced which, by itself, would sustain a conviction. The rule is satisfied if such evidence in some substantial degree (1) tends to affirm the truth of the testimony of the accomplice, and (2) tends to establish the guilt of the defendant. Circumstantial evidence may be sufficient to corroborate the testimony of an accomplice, but if a circumstance is as consistent with innocence as with guilt, then it cannot be held to corroborate the testimony given by the accomplice. (Citations omitted.) See also, State v. Wiegers, 373 N.W.2d 1, 16 (S.D.1985); State v. Feyereisen, 345 N.W.2d 58, 60 (S.D.1984); and State v. Nelson, 310 N.W.2d 777, 778-79 (S.D.1981). On appeal, defendant contends the corroboration instruction misstates the law and that sufficient corroborative evidence was not presented. However, the record reveals that defendant failed to object to this instruction. Having failed to object to the instruction, we are precluded from considering this claimed error. State v. West, 344 N.W.2d 502, 504 (S.D.1984); State v. Ellefson, 287 N.W.2d 493, 496 (S.D.1980). As for defendant's second contention on this issue, the voluminous record herein contains sufficient corroborative evidence which substantially tends to affirm the truth of Plucker's testimony and establishes defendant's guilt. To cite a few examples, we refer to the evidence revealing a close association between defendant and Plucker before, after, and during the murder; State v. Schafer, 297 N.W.2d 473, 475 (S.D.1980); and to the evidence of defendant's access to the murder weapon. State v. Brown, 285 N.W.2d 848, 851 (S.D. 1979). Defendant also led the sheriff to the murder weapon after the murder. Accordingly, we affirm the Judgment of Conviction. FOSHEIM, C.J., MORGAN and WUEST, JJ., and DUNN, Retired Justice, concur. DUNN, Retired Justice, sitting for HERTZ, Circuit Judge, Acting as Supreme Court Justice, disqualified. SABERS, J., not having been a member of the Court at the time this action was submitted to the Court, did not participate.