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https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/griner-russia-sentence/2022/08/04/id/1081741/
....Griner had admitted having the vape cartridges containing hashish oil but said it was an honest mistake.
Before the verdict, she tearfully pleaded with a Russian judge not to "end her life" with a harsh prison sentence. The court also fined her 1 million rubles ($16,990).
..........Griner's lawyers said they would appeal. Her defense team said the court had ignored all evidence they had presented, as well as Griner's guilty plea.
"Taking into account the amount of the substance - not to mention the defects of the expertise - and the plea, the verdict is absolutely unreasonable," her defense team said in a statement.
The Russian prosecutor had called for Griner to be sentenced to 9-1/2 years prison if she was found guilty of bringing illegal drugs into the country.
Griner was detained at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport on Feb. 17 with the cartridges containing hashish oil in her luggage. While she pleaded guilty, she said she had neither intended to bring a banned substance to Russia nor to hurt anybody.
"I made an honest mistake and I hope that in your ruling, that it doesn't end my life here," Griner said in court on Thursday before breaking down in tears.
"My parents taught me two important things: one, take ownership of your responsibilities and two, work hard for everything that you have. That's why I pled guilty to my charges."
"I want to say again that I had no intent on breaking any Russians laws," she told the court. "I had no intent, I did not conspire or plan to commit this crime."
.........Griner's defense team had called for her to be acquitted and said on Thursday that if the court deemed it necessary to punish her, she should be treated leniently. Alexander Boikov, one of her lawyers, said some of the case files had been drawn up in violation of the law.
...............In her testimony last week, Griner expressed puzzlement as to how the vape cartridges ended up in her luggage as she was flying back to Russia to join UMMC Ekaterinburg for the playoffs.
"I still don't understand to this day how they ended up in my bag," said Griner, the first pick overall in the 2013 WNBA draft. "If I had to guess on how they ended up in my bags, I was in a rush packing."
Griner had been prescribed medical marijuana in the United States to relieve pain from chronic injuries, a treatment method that is common among elite athletes because it has fewer side effects than some painkillers.
ing for grace and mercy for this young lady, as we all need, and that the Lord would send Christians and a bible her way and use this situation for good somehow.
....Griner had admitted having the vape cartridges containing hashish oil but said it was an honest mistake.
Before the verdict, she tearfully pleaded with a Russian judge not to "end her life" with a harsh prison sentence. The court also fined her 1 million rubles ($16,990).
..........Griner's lawyers said they would appeal. Her defense team said the court had ignored all evidence they had presented, as well as Griner's guilty plea.
"Taking into account the amount of the substance - not to mention the defects of the expertise - and the plea, the verdict is absolutely unreasonable," her defense team said in a statement.
The Russian prosecutor had called for Griner to be sentenced to 9-1/2 years prison if she was found guilty of bringing illegal drugs into the country.
Griner was detained at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport on Feb. 17 with the cartridges containing hashish oil in her luggage. While she pleaded guilty, she said she had neither intended to bring a banned substance to Russia nor to hurt anybody.
"I made an honest mistake and I hope that in your ruling, that it doesn't end my life here," Griner said in court on Thursday before breaking down in tears.
"My parents taught me two important things: one, take ownership of your responsibilities and two, work hard for everything that you have. That's why I pled guilty to my charges."
"I want to say again that I had no intent on breaking any Russians laws," she told the court. "I had no intent, I did not conspire or plan to commit this crime."
.........Griner's defense team had called for her to be acquitted and said on Thursday that if the court deemed it necessary to punish her, she should be treated leniently. Alexander Boikov, one of her lawyers, said some of the case files had been drawn up in violation of the law.
...............In her testimony last week, Griner expressed puzzlement as to how the vape cartridges ended up in her luggage as she was flying back to Russia to join UMMC Ekaterinburg for the playoffs.
"I still don't understand to this day how they ended up in my bag," said Griner, the first pick overall in the 2013 WNBA draft. "If I had to guess on how they ended up in my bags, I was in a rush packing."
Griner had been prescribed medical marijuana in the United States to relieve pain from chronic injuries, a treatment method that is common among elite athletes because it has fewer side effects than some painkillers.
ing for grace and mercy for this young lady, as we all need, and that the Lord would send Christians and a bible her way and use this situation for good somehow.