In this case, during the trial the attorneys, the lawyers who work for this woman accused of murder, tried to show that there were " mitigating circumstances."
Well, stealing food is a crime, but the judge might decide there were " mitigating circumstances" – things that, even though you did commit the crime, mean that you shouldn't be punished as severely or as heavily.
Geraldo says, " During the trial, her attorneys tried to show that there were mitigating circumstances, but the judge didn't buy it." So I guess we're talking about a woman who murdered someone, not a man.