The South Dakota Supreme Court has overturned a lower court’s decision on the trial appeal of Manegabe Chebea Ally, who was initially charged with first-degree murder in connection with the 2012 death of his partner’s 16-month-old child.
Ally’s charges were reduced to first-degree manslaughter, and he received a 25-year sentence.
He appealed, claiming ineffective counsel, and the lower court granted him relief citing deficiencies in his trial representation.
However, the Supreme Court reversed the decision, stating that the trial counsel’s decisions, including declining to call a witness and withholding video evidence, were reasonable strategic choices.
The court concluded that while an imprecise remark was not a reasonable decision, it did not prejudice Ally’s defense, affirming that he received adequate defense and a fair trial.