ASSENTING-SILENCE DOCTRINE

assenting-silence  doctrine.The  principle  that  an  accusation  will  be  taken  as  true,  despite

silence by the accused, if the accusation was  made  under circumstances in  which silence can be

fairly said to be an agreement. • This doctrine is usu. held to be invalid as a measure of a criminal

defendant’s guilt. [Cases: Criminal Law    407. C.J.S. Criminal Law § 887.][Blacks Law 8th]