Got off with appeal after case for acquittal (4)
I believe the answer is:
alit
'got off' is the definition.
('alight' can mean to get off a vehicle)
'appeal after case for acquittal' is the wordplay.
'appeal' becomes 'it' ('it' can mean something attractive or appealing).
'after' says to put letters next to each other.
'case for' suggests removing the centre (the letters which encase the others are used).
'acquittal' with its middle taken out is 'al'.
'it' after 'al' is 'ALIT'.
'with' is the link.
(Other definitions for alit that I've seen before include "got off" , "Came down to earth" , "Climbed down from" , "Landed" , "Settled" .)