Legal Question in Criminal Law in South Dakota

Re: 1st Degree Rape

Criminal defendants have the right to cross-examine witnesses against them at trial, but they don't have the right to decide who those witnesses will be. There is no rule that says victims must testify at trial; if there were, it would be impossible to prosecute murderers, and people who commit lesser crimes would have an incentive to kill their victims in order to insulate themselves from prosecution.

It may be possible for the prosecution to prove its case with evidence other than the complaining witness's testimony. Under the rules of evidence, it may be possible for some people with whom she discussed the alleged rape to testify about what she told them (such statements are generally hearsay the rule that bars most hearsay has many exceptions, and some of these exceptions may apply in your friend's case).

It sounds like your friend does not have a lawyer yet. If that is the case, he should get one ASAP. The court will appoint one for him if he can't afford to hire one privately. If he tries to defend himself, he will almost surely damage his case.