Arguing that prosecutors lacked credible witnesses, physical evidence and a motive, she said, "the whole thing doesn't make sense."

Both camps have had impressive moments, they said, but prosecutors have lacked passion and defense lawyers have made amateurish mistakes.

But a vast majority, experts say, are simply unaware of their rights because prosecutors lack the funds to keep track of victims and notify them.

But Mr. Craig insisted that prosecutors lacked evidence to support the charges.

But he said prosecutors lacked evidence to bring charges against anyone else.

But the prosecutors lacked evidence, and the trial, in November 1975, resulted in a hung jury.

They argue, too, that the prosecutors and law-enforcement agencies, often confronted with more pressing crimes of violence, lack real interest in fighting fraud.

The Swiss officials, for their part, complained that the Russian prosecutors lacked the political independence to investigate the case.

He asserted that the prosecutors lacked proof.

Swiss authorities have complained that Russia has been slow to move forward with the case, possibly because prosecutors lacked the political independence to do so.