State can seek the death penalty in 2020 murder case

A South Dakota man has been ruled he is eligible to face the death penalty for the murder of a Sioux Falls woman in 2020. Amir Beaudion Jr. is accused of murder in the death of 20-year-old Pasqalina Badi outside a Walmart. He is alleged to have dump the body in a Lincoln county ditch. His defense argued the state could not seek the death penalty against Beaudion because he was 19 at the time of the alleged crime and the state constitution prevents the death penalty for teenagers. A judge has ruled Beadion is eligible to face the death penalty in this case. Beaudion has pleaded not guilty to the crime. The last person executed by the state of South Dakota was Charles Russel Rhines in November of 2019.