If any one should give false testimony against another, and be
detected, or should acknowledge his crime; if he is a person of rank,
he shall give as much of his own property to him against whom he
testified falsely, as the latter would have lost by his evidence, and
he shall never again be permitted to testify in court. If he is a
person of inferior rank, and does not possess the means wherewith to
make amends, he shall be delivered as a slave to him against whom he
testified falsely. But the cause shall by no means be lost by reason
of such false testimony, unless the truth shall have been established
otherwise; that is, either by a lawful and approved witness, or by just
and legal documents in writing. If any one should corrupt another,
either by a gift, or by fraud, and should thereby induce him to
perjure himself, then, as soon as this fact shall become apparent, the
instigator of the crime who aimed at the injury of another, as well
as he who was induced by avarice to swear falsely, shall undergo the
penalty of forgery.[14]
=FLAVIUS CHINTASVINTUS, KING.=
=VII. Concerning Those who are Proved to have given False Testimony; and
Concerning the Space of Six Months in which a Witness may be Declared
Infamous. It shall not be Lawful to give Testimony concerning One who
is Dead.=
The wickedness of those who give false testimony is not limited to this
offence merely, but attempts to add another crime to that of perjury.
And, therefore, because such detestable criminals are condemned to
death by the Divine Law, we decree that those whom judicial authority
has proved to have given false witness against their brethren, shall
henceforth not be permitted to testify, as they have already been
declared worthy of death, not by human, but by the Divine decree.
And if any one should give evidence in court concerning any matter
in dispute, and the case should be gained by his testimony, and this
witness should subsequently declare that he had given false testimony
in the first place, and should then testify in such a manner that
his former evidence shall be overthrown; he having been influenced
by friendship, or fear, or by a gift from that party against whom
he formerly testified; we decree by this new law, the old one still
remaining in force, that the testimony of said witness shall not be
entitled to credit; and that the cause in which he perjured himself
shall not be lost by reason of his testimony, unless it happens that
the judgment shall be reversed by the introduction of more reliable,
legitimate witnesses, or by means of properly verified documents; so
that it may be proper to have a rehearing of the case, and a second
decision, as hereinbefore stated. If a party desiring to accelerate
the progress of his case should produce a witness in court, and his
adversary being present, the latter should declare that he cannot offer
anything to contradict said witness, the matter in question shall be
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account