Perjurio y declaraciones falsas: inconsistencia y consecuencias

Explicación Simple

Si una persona dice cosas diferentes bajo juramento, podría meterse en problemas. No es necesario probar cuál de las dos declaraciones es falsa, solo que al menos una lo es y la persona lo sabía.

Es como cuando un estudiante dice que hizo su tarea, pero luego se contradice al decir que no la trajo porque se le olvidó. Si el profesor se da cuenta, el estudiante tendrá problemas, aunque no sepa exactamente qué parte es mentira.

Ejemplo Práctico

Imagina que Juan testifica en un juicio y dice que vio a Pedro en un lugar, pero luego dice que no lo vio. Si se descubre que mintió, aunque no se sepa cuál de las dos afirmaciones es falsa, Juan podría ser acusado de perjurio.

Penalidades

Las penas dependen de la gravedad de la mentira, pero no se especifican en el texto.

Texto Original del Estatuto (Inglés)

RCW 9A.72.050 - Perjury and false swearing -- Inconsistent statements -- Degree of crime (1) Where, in the course of one or more official proceedings, a person makes inconsistent material statements under oath, the prosecution may proceed by setting forth the inconsistent statements in a single count alleging in the alternative that one or the other was false and known by the defendant to be false. In such case it shall not be necessary for the prosecution to prove which material statement was false but only that one or the other was false and known by the defendant to be false.(2) The highest offense of which a person may be convicted in such an instance as set forth in subsection (1) of this section shall be determined by hypothetically assuming each statement to be false. If perjury of different degrees would be established by the making of the two statements, the person may only be convicted of the lesser degree. If perjury or false swearing would be established by the making of the two statements, the person may only be convicted of false swearing. For purposes of this section, no corroboration shall be required of either inconsistent statement. RCW 9A.72.060 - Perjury and false swearing -- Retraction No person shall be convicted of perjury or false swearing if he retracts his false statement in the course of the same proceeding in which it was made, if in fact he does so before it becomes manifest that the falsification is or will be exposed and before the falsification substantially affects the proceeding. Statements made in separate hearings at separate stages of the same trial, administrative, or other official proceeding shall be treated as if made in the course of the same proceeding. RCW 9A.72.070 - Perjury and false swearing -- Irregularities no de