Related Clues:

• ___ defense (courtroom strategy)
• Part of a court defense
• Way out, of a sort
• One may be airtight
• 'I was with my girlfriend all evening,' e.g
• Entering French town, I claim to have been elsewhere
• "I was at the club that night," e.g
• Cover story of some Somali bishop
• Formal excuse
• Defendant's trump card
• Bail broken? I must make an excuse
• Liberal in first-rate legal defence
• One can help you get off
• It's a likely story
• Initially attacking, later is better in defence