Alleged murderer gets stick (4)

I believe the answer is:

cane

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'stick' is the definition.
(I know that cane is a type of walking stick)

I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for cane that I've seen before include "Punish; woody stem" , "Slender stick" , "e.g. Bamboo stem" , "Type of sugar; beat" , "Malacca, perhaps" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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