Its illegal to not tell everything you know in court. If you say nothing, you might get sued. And if you say you don't know anything, you're fucked when another witness says you knew it.

There are only three exceptions:

You might get yourself in trouble, in that case you don't have to answer the question
It's a case against a family member in which case you also don't have to testify.
It would go against your professional secrecy

But you have to testify against a friend.

I just looked it up and it's exactly the same in the US. So you also can be force to testify in Murica

[–] Johanno@feddit.de 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You don't have to testify against your fianceé. So if you engage with your friend right before the court you don't have to testify. You can break up right after. Happens a lot apparently

[–] newIdentity@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

~~Nah. You have to testify against your fiancé. You just don't have to testify against your wife. So you need to marry.~~

Edit: Nvm, but you can't break up directly after that.

[–] krische@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Well I'd imagine I'd go like anytime someone doesn't follow a court order; you get jailed and/or fined in contempt of court.