Crossword Genius

Time and motive for crime (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

treason

'crime' is the definition.
(treason is a kind of crime)

'time and motive' is the wordplay.
'time' becomes 't'.
'and' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'motive' becomes 'reason' (reason is a kind of motive).
't'+'reason'='TREASON'

'for' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for treason that I've seen before include "Senator (anag)" , "Stare on (anag.)" , "One rats (anag)" , "Offence against state" , "Crime of disloyalty" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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