Crossword Genius

Creatures that are party to a terrible crime (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

dormice

'creatures' is the definition.
(dormouse is a kind of creature)

'are party to a terrible crime' is the wordplay.
'are party' becomes 'do'.
'to a terrible' is an anagram indicator.
'crime' with letters rearranged gives 'rmice'.
'do'+'rmice'='DORMICE'

'that' is the link.

(Other definitions for dormice that I've seen before include "Mammals" , "Little hibernating rodents" , "little things?" , "Furry animals" , "Bushy-tailed rodents" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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