Mati Barnhart, knitted news04.08.22 20:36 Z. Bab Tishfav
Greener (Photo: Shutterstock)
The Russian court ruled today (Thursday) that Brittany Griner was found guilty of drug smuggling with criminal intent, after she was caught at Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow on February 17.
The 31-year-old Olympic gold medalist was arrested at a Moscow airport and charged by Russian prosecutors with trying to smuggle less than one gram of cannabis oil in her suitcase.
“I never intended to hurt anyone, I never intended to endanger the Russian population, I never intended to break any law here,” Griner said today in the court in the city of Khimki. “I made a mistake and I hope that your ruling will not end my life here. I know that everyone continues to talk about political matters, but I hope that it is far from this courtroom.”
“I had no intention of violating any Russian law”
Griner pleaded guilty to drug charges last month, in what her lawyers explain as an attempt to take responsibility and in the process will lead to leniency from the judges.
In the arguments discussed today, the prosecutor asked for 9.5 years in prison for Griner.
A fine of about $16,400
Defense attorney Blagobulina argued that Griner never used marijuana in Russia and that she never intended to do so. In the end, the WNBA star was sentenced by the Russian court to 9 years in prison with a fine of one million rubles (about $16,400).
The court said that it took into account her partial admission of guilt, remorse for the act, her state of health and the charity activity in which she takes part.
Her lawyers argued that if Griner ever used medical marijuana, it was only at her home in Arizona, where it is legal and she used very rarely, only on a doctor’s prescription following her severe pain caused by sports injuries.
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