Which of the following is a necessary element of perjury?

In a perjury charge, one critical element is that the statement made must be material to the outcome of the proceedings in which it is given. Materiality means that the false statement could influence the decision of the court or the context in which it was made. For example, if the false statement relates to a fact that is significant to the case, then it is considered material. If the statement made were irrelevant or immaterial, it would not meet the threshold for perjury, regardless of whether it was false or made under oath.

The other elements presented in the options do not encompass the essentials required for a perjury charge. While witness testimony is integral to many legal proceedings, it is not a necessary element for establishing perjury itself. Malicious intent can be relevant to various criminal offenses but is not a requisite for perjury; a false statement made without malicious intent can still constitute perjury. Additionally, the requirement for the statement to be made outside of court is incorrect since perjury specifically involves statements made under oath in a judicial proceeding.