Misleading justice Flashcards
Perjury
S108 CA1961
F.O.B.K
Perjury is an assertion to a matter of Fact, Opinion, Belief or Knowledge made by a witness in a judicial proceeding as part of his evidence on oath, whether the evidence is given in open court or by affidavit or otherwise, that assertion being known to the witness as being false and intended by him to mislead the tribunal holding the process
Examples of judicial proceedings
- any court of justice
- any person acting as a court or tribunal
- the house of representatives
- any arbitrator or umpire
Is a false statement deemed to be perjury?
Yes, a formal statement is to be treated as evidence on oath in a judicial proceeding.
Punishment for perjury
s109 CA1961
7 years UNLESS perjury is made to convict someone for an offence that is over 3 years then the perjury charge will be max 14 years
False oath punishment
s110 CA1961
5 years
False statement punishment
s111 CA1961
3 years
What happens if only one witness for offence of perjury, false oath or false statement?
s112 CA1961
Can’t be convicted unless there is other corroborating evidence
Fabricating evidence punishment
s113
7 years
Elements of perjury
- a witness making any
- assertion as to any matter of Fact, Opinion, Belief or Knowledge
- in any judicial proceeding
- forming part of what witness’s evidence on oath
- known by that witness to be false and,
- intended to mislead the tribunal
Witness
A person who gives evidence and is able to be cross examined in a proceeding.
Includes a person that HAS, CURRENTLY and WILL give evidence
Assertion
Something that is declared or stated positively, often with no support or attempt made at furnishing evidence or proof of accuracy
Matter of fact
Used by the courts to distinguish a particular kind of information
A fact is a thing done or an actual occurrence or event and is presented at court by witness testimony or evidence
A witness can testify about the facts of the base but not their opinions of it
Opinion
A statement of opinion that tends to prove or disprove a fact
Belief
A subjective feeling regarding the validity of an idea or set of facts. More than mere suspicion but less than knowledge.
It is to formulate a conclusion as a result of considering the available information
Opinion evidence by lay witness
Enables witnesses to give evidence of a persons age, ID, physical and emotional state. As well as clothing worn and if a person was under the influence of alcohol