Opinion ID: 900626
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Robbin Hruska

Text: [¶ 49.] During the summer of 1998, Hruska was helping his sister operate the bar in Frederick. He told the jury that prior to July 3, 1998, Drafahl told him his nickname was Machete Dave because he could sneak up behind [Hruska], cut [him] up into a hundred different pieces and no one would know. [¶ 50.] The trial court allowed this testimony but ruled that Hruska could not testify to the conversation concerning Drafahl's scheme as follows: Drafahl asked Hruska to sign a piece of paper which provided that the bar was a public place. If Hruska would sign it, Drafahl explained that he could shoot Hruska and sue the city. Then the two could split the money. At that point, Hruska told Drafahl to leave the bar and Drafahl started pounding the bar with his first. [¶ 51.] Blem argues this evidence was admissible under SDCL 19-12-7 because the State made the victim's reputation an issue. He claims that proof of Drafahl's violent nature, particularly when drinking, was relevant to Blem's claim of self-defense to rebut the State's portrayal of Drafahl's peaceful reputation. [¶ 52.] As indicated above, Blem was entitled to present relevant specific instances of conduct to impeach the State's evidence that Drafahl was a peaceful person. The trial court erred. On re-trial, this evidence is admissible, if necessary, for impeachment purposes.