 They noted that while the defence had presented a "no harm-no foul argument", in which they argued that they were owed the money appropriated, "such arguments usually fare badly in criminal cases".
<clarity>  They noted that while the defence had presented a "no harm-no foul argument", in which they argued that they were owed the money appropriated, "such arguments usually fare badly in criminal cases".
 They noted that while the defence had presented a "no harm-no foul argument", in which it was argued that the accused were owed the money appropriated, "such arguments usually fare badly in criminal cases".