[Teacher317]

You have the absolute right to testify in favor of yourself and to explain why you are innocent. Failing to do that reasonably suggests guilt.

Not exactly a Constitutional scholar, are you?

[chesley]

Not exactly a Constitutional scholar, are you?

I don't know. Frankly, I think silence does suggest (not prove) guilt. There may be other reasons for silence, including, say, guilt for something else, legal or illegal that you do not wish known.

However, the fact of silence should not be allowed in court. We all know of (think 'OJ') guilty parties that have gotten off. That's the way the law works.