Cover dictation covering sentence (7)
I believe the answer is:
verdict
'sentence' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'cover dictation covering' is the wordplay.
'covering' says the answer is hidden in the clue.
'VERDICT' is hidden within 'cover dictation'.
(Other definitions for verdict that I've seen before include "Judicial decision" , "Decision, judgement" , "Could be innocent or guilty" , "Decision arrived at in a court of law" , "conclusion" .)