Never before I witnessed such terrible behaviour. vs Never before I have witnessed such terrible behaviour.

Some examples from the web:

• - Your Highness, I have no excuse for my terrible behaviour.
• Never in all my years of practicing law have I witnessed such a complete and utter disregard for an accused man's constitutional rights.
• Never before I had loved as intensely as I do tonight with you.
• I have never witnessed such behaviour!
• I have never witnessed such sincere hospitality...
• Disgusting. I've never witnessed such a spectacle.
• It truly tragic that yesterday we again witnessed such a calamity as this terrorist attack.
• I myself have never witnessed such abject poverty.
• Never has this generation witnessed such a consensus of all the economic experts in Europe in forecasting strong and sustained growth.
• Have you ever witnessed such a thing?
• Hannibal's only crime I witnessed was influence.
• I witnessed you stealing that woman's wallet.
• What I witnessed was refined swordsmanship.
• I witnessed their power, General.
• I witnessed nothing in that Temple.
• I witnessed the aftermath - figuratively and literally.
• Before we cause such terrible damage.
• I don't know why I have such terrible luck with guys.
• It's bad that the baby listens to such terrible things.
• My mind could never imagine such terrible things.

Some examples from the web:

• - Your Highness, I have no excuse for my terrible behaviour.
• I have witnessed what witchcraft can do.
• I have never witnessed such behaviour!
• I have never witnessed such sincere hospitality...
• I don't know why I have such terrible luck with guys.
• I have made such terrible mistakes, Donnie. No.
• I have witnessed your skill with knife upon the unsuspecting.
• I have witnessed cold distance in his stare.
• I have witnessed Glaber and his men entering the city.
• I have witnessed them literally bypass people.
• I have witnessed fantastic results... from you over the years.
• I have witnessed firsthand the depths of your cruelty.
• I have witnessed them literally bypass people.
• I have witnessed all the fake latex stuff on my movie sets.
• I have witnessed your skill with knife upon the unsuspecting.
• Excuse me, but I have witnessed childbirth.
• I have witnessed their capacity for courage.
• I have witnessed firsthand the power of ideas.
• Write that I have witnessed it myself, under enemy fire.
• I have witnessed this at company level.