SDCL § 31-19-12: Hearing at special term--Rights of defendants--Rules of civil procedure applicable.

At the time and place specified in the order, a special term of the court shall be held, at which the proceedings in impaneling the jury, trial, and rendering of the verdict or verdicts shall be conducted in the same manner as in civil actions, except that every defendant shall have the same rights and privileges, upon such trial, to challenge jurors and examine and cross-examine witnesses and participate therein, by himself or attorney, as a defendant in a civil action who has appeared and answered.