expain

1st Definition:
to justify; to free from all culpability regarding a previous accusation.
2nd Definition:
to defend against a perceived future accusation.

The 1st Definition and 2nd Definition differ in that the 2nd Definition sets up a preemptive defense against what the defender thinks the next accusation may be.

The jury judged the accused expained in his actions.

The child was accused of having not done his English homework, to which he replied he had, and quickly added that he had also done his History homework.