Crossword Genius

Excuse from Crystal, "I bilked" (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

alibi

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

'from crystal i bilked' is the wordplay.
'from' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'ALIBI' can be found hidden inside 'crystal i bilked'.

(Other definitions for alibi that I've seen before include "Timely excuse" , "Defence used by an accused person" , "that gets him off the hook?" , "Timely get-out" , "can offer a valid defence against most charges" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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