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Delaware · Through 2026-08-10 (85 Del. Laws, c. 421, 424) · Newer source version available

11 Del. C. § 1225: Inconsistent statements under oath; no need to prove one false; framing indictment; proof of irreconcilable inconsistency; conviction of lesser offense.

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Where this section sits in the code
  1. Title 11. Crimes and Criminal Procedure
  2. Delaware Criminal Code
  3. CHAPTER 5. Specific Offenses
  4. Subchapter VI. Offenses Against Public Administration

When a person has made 2 statements under oath which are inconsistent to the degree that 1 of them is necessarily false, and the circumstances are such that each statement, if false, is perjurious, the inability of the prosecution to establish specifically which of the 2 statements is the false one does not preclude a prosecution for perjury. The prosecution may be conducted as follows:

(1) The indictment or information may set forth the 2 statements and, without designating either, charge that 1 of them is false and perjurious.

(2) The falsity of one or the other of the 2 statements may be established by proof of their irreconcilable inconsistency. Such proof is sufficient to establish a prima facie case of falsity.

(3) If perjury of different degrees would be established by the making of the 2 statements, hypothetically assuming that each is false and perjurious, the defendant may be convicted of the lesser degree at most.

Collected 2026-09-05T23:02:13Z. Source file · JSON

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