Opinion ID: 2191426
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: whether the trial court's admission of the 1988 tax form harmless error

Text: State argues that any error was harmless under SDCL 23A-44-14 and does not justify reversal. We reject that contention. An error is harmless if absent the error it is clear beyond a reasonable doubt that the jury would have returned a verdict of guilty. State v. Younger, 453 N.W.2d 834, 838 (S.D.1990). The jury had to decide if Weber filed the form with intent to defraud. This issue came down to a question of credibility. Weber's credibility was unquestionably damaged by the admission of the 1988 federal tax form. Perhaps more importantly, the prosecutor argued the 1988 federal tax form to the jury as bad act evidence. The erroneous admission of the 1988 federal tax form would not have been nearly so harmful if the prosecutor had not improperly argued it as a prior bad act. Weber did not get a fair trial. The harmless error rule ought never be used to justify unfairness at the trial. State v. Dokken, 385 N.W.2d 493, 500 (S.D.1986). It is not clear beyond a reasonable doubt that the jury would have convicted Weber absent the trial court's erroneous admission of the 1988 federal tax form. We reverse and remand. MILLER, C.J., and WUEST, HENDERSON, SABERS and AMUNDSON, JJ., participating.