SDCL § 23A-39-1: (Rule 43 (a)) Presence required at all times except as provided.

A defendant shall be present at his arraignment, at the time of his plea, at every stage of his trial including the impaneling of the jury and the return of the verdict, and at the imposition of sentence, except as provided by §§ 23A-39-2 and 23A-39-3.

Source: SDC 1939 & Supp 1960, §§ 34.3501, 34.3602; SDCL, §§ 23-35-2, 23-42-1; SL 1978, ch 178, § 485.