Spoken about case for defence making trial (6)
I believe the answer is:
ordeal
'trial' is the definition.
(I know that ordeal is a type of trial)
'spoken about case for defence' is the wordplay.
'spoken' becomes 'oral' (similar in meaning).
'about' is an insertion indicator.
'case for' suggests removing the centre (the letters which encase the others are used).
'defence' with its middle removed is 'de'.
'oral' placed around 'de' is 'ORDEAL'.
'making' is the link.
(Other definitions for ordeal that I've seen before include "trying affair" , "Tough test in Laredo" , "A difficult and harrowing experience" , "Struggle" , "Torture" .)