Musannaf Ibn Abi Shayba 19:430

Abu Bakr narrated to us, he said: Waki’ narrated to us, from Yazid ibn Ziyad al-Basri, from al-Zuhri, from Urwah, from Aisha, who said: "Ward off the prescribed punishments (hudud) from the Muslims as much as you are able. If you find a way out for a Muslim, then let him go. For if the Imam errs in pardoning, it is better than if he errs in punishment."