Opinion ID: 2052508
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: did the trial court err in unfairly restricting the kind, scope and extent of defense counsel's cross-examination of witnesses?

Text: On this issue, Donald again presents the court with a laundry list of supposed errors involving eight separate rulings. The list informs the court of the evidence sought through cross-examination, but fails to inform us of the basis for admissibility of such evidence. The scope and extent of cross-examination is a matter within the sound discretion of the trial court. This court will not overturn the trial court's decision unless there is shown an abuse of discretion. State v. Reutter, 374 N.W.2d 617 (S.D.1985). The record reveals that the trial court's rulings limiting the cross-examination were variously based on grounds of lack of relevancy, speculation, lack of foundation, more prejudicial than probative, and attempts to impeach prior inconsistent statements where no prior inconsistent statements had been made. We find no abuse of discretion in any of the trial court's rulings.