Meanings of say in extenuation in английском

For myself, I knew of nothing to say in extenuation of my speech.

What had the criminals to say in extenuation of their offences?

Had he been less cruel, something might have been said in extenuation of his meanness.

Had he been less mean, something might have been said in extenuation of his cruelty.

No matter what may be said in extenuation, Arnold committed the greatest crime known to civilized nations.

"My brother is weak in her hands," she managed to say in extenuation.

"Have any of you prisoners anything to say in extenuation of your actions?"

"I thought I heard something in the bushes back there," she said in extenuation.

"He's been an officer," they used to say in extenuation.

"But I somehow just can't," he said in extenuation.

"Well, my woman," continued the Mayor, "what have you to say in extenuation of the charge."

"You'll find plenty of better players than I am at the club," he said in extenuation.

"If that's all you can say in extenuation!--

MPs would listen to anything said in extenuation or mitigation, as Erskine May puts it, before deciding whether to endorse the privileges committee's conclusions.

"She killed a calf a few nights ago," he said in extenuation, "and Shady was 'laying for' her.

'Well, sir,' said the Baronet, holding out his hand, 'what have you to say in extenuation of your past conduct?