Opinion ID: 1846581
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: perjury by all of the witnesses

Text: ¶ 16. Givens next claims that the State knowingly presented perjured testimony from all seven witnesses. In addition, Givens submitted a diagram of the crime scene in an effort to contradict Foxworth's testimony. ¶ 17. Addressing the diagram first, it is not a part of the record on the appeal and we therefore need not consider it. Saucier v. State, 328 So.2d 355, 357 (Miss.1976) (A reviewing court can act only on the basis of the contents of the official record. . . . ). ¶ 18. Regarding Givens's assertion that the State knowingly presented perjured testimony from all of its witnesses, Givens's court-appointed appellate counsel stated in its brief that it considers Givens's recitation of facts under this issue to create more of a claim of conflicting evidence or conflicting views of the evidence, or weight and sufficiency of the evidence rather than perjured testimony. Givens offered no evidence at trial to demonstrate that the State offered perjured testimony. Instead, Givens makes only assertions that the seven witnesses were lying, based on statements made in open court. However, mere assertions are not sufficient to support a claim of perjury. Manning v. State, 884 So.2d 717, 726 (Miss.2004). This issue is thus without merit.