The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word ACCUSED
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
A
C
C
U
S
E
D
More clues leading to the result ACCUSED
- A small volume employed for defendant
- Defendant doomed, right to escape
- Right to abandon wretched woman in the dock?
- Charged article? Carbon copy, not new
- Defendant who’s damned? Not right!
- Denounced a cricket club not new to exploitation
- Blamed copper in fixed case ending in bird
- Defendant condemned with no right
- Charged and doomed? That’s not right
- Defendant made charges
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Defendant" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case defendant = accused.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does ACCUSED mean?
ACCUSED verb- To find fault with, blame, censure
- (followed by "of") to charge with having committed a crime or offence
- To make an accusation against someone
- The person charged with an offense; the defendant in a criminal case.
- Having been accused; being the target of accusations.