WNBA star pleads responsible to drug costs : NPR

Brittney Griner pleaded responsible to drug costs as her trial continued in Russian courtroom on Thursday, admitting to bringing hashish into the nation however saying she had packed in a rush and didn’t intend to interrupt the regulation.

The Phoenix Mercury Heart and Olympic medalist may withstand 10 years in jail if convicted.

It was Griner’s second courtroom look since her trial started in earnest final Friday. A decide had beforehand ordered her to be detained for the size of the trial, which her lawyer has mentioned may last as long as two months and can doubtless contain a number of hearings by the prosecution earlier than the protection will get its flip. One other listening to is scheduled for subsequent Thursday.

Griner was arrested on Feb. 17 — per week earlier than Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine — after authorities at Sheremetyevo Worldwide Airport allegedly discovered hashish vape cartridges in her baggage. She was touring there as a result of she performs for a Russian crew throughout the U.S. offseason, which many WNBA gamers do to complement their incomes.

Prosecutors allege that previous to her journey, Griner bought two cartridges containing 0.252 grams and 0.45 grams of hash oil for private use. Final week’s listening to featured testimony from two customs brokers who had been working on the airport when Griner’s luggage had been inspected.

Most of Thursday’s proceedings had been spent on testimony for the prosecution, by two witnesses who had been current on the airport when Griner was detained. Griner watched whereas cramped inside a small cage in a nook of the recent courtroom, not saying a lot.

After the prosecution wrapped its case, Griner stood up and requested to make an announcement. She entered her responsible plea and requested for extra time to organize additional testimony.

“I wish to plead responsible on the costs in opposition to me,” she mentioned. “However I had no intention on breaking any Russian regulation. I used to be in a rush packing and the cartridges unintentionally ended up in my luggage.”

When requested why she pled responsible as we speak, Griner’s legal professionals mentioned it was her first likelihood to deal with the costs in opposition to her, including that she acknowledged she was a job mannequin to many and thought it vital to come clean with her errors — one thing they hope the decide will take note of whereas ruling on her case. Her legal professionals will clarify her actions in additional element and current her protection subsequent week.

The Biden administration — which in Might formally declared Griner to be wrongfully detained — believes that the regime of Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered her arrest in an effort to use her as leverage, although the Kremlin insists the case is not politically motivated.

Thursday’s listening to comes because the Biden administration faces rising public stress to safe Griner’s launch, particularly after Griner herself pleaded for assist in a handwritten letter delivered to the White Home on the 4th of July.

The White Home introduced Wednesday that the president had spoken to Griner’s spouse, Cherelle (after going through criticism for not doing so sooner), and skim her a draft of a letter he deliberate to ship her that very same day. It reiterated that releasing Griner and different American detainees is a high precedence.

Following Thursday’s proceedings, U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission Elizabeth Rood told reporters that she had delivered Biden’s letter to Griner. She was once more capable of communicate with Griner within the courtroom.

“She mentioned that she is consuming nicely, she is ready to learn books and below the circumstances she is doing nicely,” Rood mentioned.

There was chatter in Washington and Moscow a few potential prisoner swap involving Griner and a Russian nationwide imprisoned within the U.S. Citing affirmation from an official supply, Russian state company Tass beforehand reported that discussions had centered on the infamous convicted arms vendor Viktor Bout, also referred to as the “Service provider of Loss of life.”

On Thursday, nonetheless, Russia’s Deputy International Minister Sergei Ryabkov prompt that it’s tough to alternate prisoners with the U.S., in feedback reported by Reuters. Referring to the letter that Biden supposed to ship Griner, he mentioned that “hype” across the case doesn’t assist, and that “this sort of correspondence doesn’t assist.”

Russia has mentioned there won’t be a possible prisoner swap till after a verdict has been reached.

Maynes reported from Russia. Treisman reported from Washington, D.C.