demurrer

Noun

• a defendant's answer or plea denying the truth of the charges against him
  • he gave evidence for the defense
    

• (law) any pleading that attacks the legal sufficiency of the opponent's pleadings

• (law) a formal objection to an opponent's pleadings

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  defense , defence , denial , demur , demurral
• Antonyms: 
  prosecution , criminal prosecution