Crossword Genius

Trial involving convictions in a court — king takes it hard (3,2,5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

act of faith

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'trial involving convictions' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'a court king takes it hard' is the wordplay.
'court' becomes 'ct' (abbreviation used in road names).
'king' becomes 'offa' (I've seen this before).
'takes' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'hard' becomes 'h' (abbreviation used in pencil classifications).
'a'+'ct'+'offa'+'it'+'h'='ACT OF FAITH'

'in' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for act of faith that I've seen before include "Religious observance" , "Religiously-inspired deed" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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