alibis
Suspects' claimed whereabouts
Alibis are claims or evidence that a person was elsewhere when a crime or wrongdoing occurred: The suspect's alibis didn't hold up under scrutiny.
More loosely, an alibi is any excuse offered to avoid blame: She always has alibis ready when she misses a deadline.
To alibi is to offer such excuses, though this verb form sounds dated.
Crime fiction identifying perpetrator
- detectiveProfessional crime investigator
- sleuthPrivate investigator
- suspectBelieve to be likely
- clueSolving aid
investigation · interrogation · crime · thriller · noir · forensics · culprit · suspense
Protection against harm
- testimonySworn statement as evidence
- witnessOne who attests
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
- pleaFormal request or defense
corroboration · acquittal · exoneration · cross-examination · affidavit · verdict · trial · prosecution
Official clearing of blame
- acquittalFormal clearing of charges
- blamelessFree of wrongdoing
- guiltlessNot at fault
- clearedFound not guilty
vindication · proof · verification · confirmation · corroboration · unimpeachable · airtight · solid
Fabricated motive concealing truth
- explanationStatement making something clear
- reasonBasis or justification
- cop-outEvasion of responsibility
- dodgeAvoid by quick movement
evasion · justification · defense · story · account · plea · exculpation · mitigation
whodunit
Crime fiction identifying perpetrator
clue · investigation · interrogation · crime · thriller · noir · forensics · culprit · suspense · motive
defense
Protection against harm
plea · corroboration · acquittal · exoneration · cross-examination · affidavit · verdict · trial · prosecution · perjury
exoneration
Official clearing of blame
cleared · vindication · proof · verification · confirmation · corroboration · unimpeachable · airtight · solid · ironclad
pretext
Fabricated motive concealing truth
- explanationStatement making something clear
- reasonBasis or justification
- cop-outEvasion of responsibility
dodge · evasion · justification · defense · story · account · plea · exculpation · mitigation · cover
fabrication
Deliberately untrue statement
- lieDeliberate falsehood
- cover storyFalse explanation for actions
- pretenseDeceptive outward show
ruse · cover-up · mislead · deceit · sham · falsify · hoax · ploy · subterfuge · frame-up
- mysteryclue, detective, suspect, clues, sleuth
- excusesexcuse, not my fault, overslept, excuses, denial
- investigationinvestigation, detective, evidence, clue, case
- sleuthingclues, detective work, evidence gathering, fingerprints, footprints
- whodunitswhodunit, murder mystery, detective, sleuth, clue
- secret behaviorssneaking, hiding, lying, secrecy, cheating
alibisconfessions
Acts of revealing guilt
admissions · guilty pleas · self-incrimination · mea culpas · owning up
alibisincriminating evidence
- false alibiInvented proof of absence
- fake alibiFabricated proof of absence