How do I tell my friend I won’t testify for them in court? /u/cactus_utopia51 No such thing as stupid questions

My friend was in a bike v car accident and I witnessed it. (He was on the bike.)

He was visiting me and had just left. I was seeing him off and was still at my front entryway facing the street when he left. I clearly saw the entire accident.

My friend entered the roadway and, at a four way intersection, neglected to stop at a clearly posted and obviously visible stop sign.

Another car, that stopped appropriately and reached the intersection before him by at least several seconds, hit him. Luckily the driver wasn’t going very fast so my friend only sustained a fractured wrist and some nasty scrapes. Never the less, the issue is going to court.

Ironically, it is my friend taking the driver to court. The driver’s car didn’t sustain any serious damage so to my knowledge they weren’t going to pursue anything.

My friend wants me to testify that he stopped appropriately at the stop sign. He did not stop at all. Besides all of the obvious reasons that one should not perjure themselves, I am about to go to law school. I cannot risk any character and fitness issues that would jeopardize my admission, my scholarship, or my eligibility to pass the bar.

This is a very good and very old friend of mine. This was a traumatic incident for them. I’m the only witness. I want to be as kind and delicate as possible. They’ll be in a precarious financial situation if the driver’s insurance doesn’t cover their injuries. I understand why they’re upset. But I cannot lie in court.

How do I break this to him?

Thanks in advance.

Tldr – Very good friend was at fault in a bike v car accident that I witnessed. Friend wants me to testify on their behalf, but I am not willing to perjure myself. How do I say this nicely but clearly, without losing the friendship?

My friend was in a bike v car accident and I witnessed it. (He was on the bike.)

He was visiting me and had just left. I was seeing him off and was still at my front entryway facing the street when he left. I clearly saw the entire accident.

My friend entered the roadway and, at a four way intersection, neglected to stop at a clearly posted and obviously visible stop sign.

Another car, that stopped appropriately and reached the intersection before him by at least several seconds, hit him. Luckily the driver wasn’t going very fast so my friend only sustained a fractured wrist and some nasty scrapes. Never the less, the issue is going to court.

Ironically, it is my friend taking the driver to court. The driver’s car didn’t sustain any serious damage so to my knowledge they weren’t going to pursue anything.

My friend wants me to testify that he stopped appropriately at the stop sign. He did not stop at all. Besides all of the obvious reasons that one should not perjure themselves, I am about to go to law school. I cannot risk any character and fitness issues that would jeopardize my admission, my scholarship, or my eligibility to pass the bar.

This is a very good and very old friend of mine. This was a traumatic incident for them. I’m the only witness. I want to be as kind and delicate as possible. They’ll be in a precarious financial situation if the driver’s insurance doesn’t cover their injuries. I understand why they’re upset. But I cannot lie in court.

How do I break this to him?

Thanks in advance.

Tldr – Very good friend was at fault in a bike v car accident that I witnessed. Friend wants me to testify on their behalf, but I am not willing to perjure myself. How do I say this nicely but clearly, without losing the friendship?