Crossword Genius

Breaking bail — one's excuse? (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

alibi

'excuse?' is the definition.
(excuse given by a suspect in an investigation)

'breaking bail one's' is the wordplay.
'breaking' indicates anagramming the letters.
'one' becomes 'i' (Roman numeral).
'bail' is an anagram of 'alib'.
'alib'+'i'='ALIBI'

(Other definitions for alibi that I've seen before include "Proof of being elsewhere at the time of a crime." , "Evidence one was not at crime scene" , "It shows one wasn't at crime scene" , "Legal proof of innocence" , "Plea of absence" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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