WNBA star Brittney Griner pleaded guilty on Thursday to bringing hashish oil into Russia, telling a judge that she had done so "inadvertently" while asking the court for mercy. Her legal team explains the guilty plea.
WNBA's Brittney Griner pleads guilty to drug charges in Russia
Brittney Griner, WBNA center with the Phoenix Mercury, pleaded guilty on Thursday at her trial in Russia for drug possession charges.
Griner was playing basketball in Russia during the WNBA off-season. She was detained at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport on Feb. 17 and arrested for drug possession charges after bringing a cannabis substance into Russia. Griner had hashish oil in her luggage. She has been held in custody ever since, just shy of five, months awaiting trial.
During the trial on Thursday, Griner told the court that she packed vape cartridges accidentally and did not intentionally intend to break Russian law, ESPN reported.
"I would like to plead guilty on the charges against me," Griner told the judge in English, which was then translated into Russian for the court, CBS reported. "But I had no intention on breaking any Russian law."
"I was in a rush packing and the cartridges accidentally ended up in my bags," Griner explained.
Griner then asked the judge for "time to prepare" her testimony. The judge scheduled the next court hearing for July 14.
Griner could face up to ten years in prison for the offense. Fewer than 1% of defendants in Russian criminal cases are acquitted. Even if she's acquitted, it does not mean it's over. Unlike in U.S. courts, acquittals can be overturned.
"I'm terrified I might be here forever," wrote Griner in a letter to President Joe Biden, delivered by her representatives to the White House on July 4.
Griner's legal team explains why she pleaded guilty
"We of course hope for the leniency of the court,'' Griner's attorney, Maria Blagovolina, told reporters outside the court after the hearing. "Considering all the circumstances of the case, taking into account the personality of our client, we believe that the admission of guilt should certainly be taken into account.''
Maria Blagovolina from Rybalkin Gortsunyan Dyakin and Alexander Boykov from Moscow Legal Center, Brittney Griner's legal team in Russia, issued a statement on why she pled guilty to the drug charges in Russia, People reported.
Griner's guilty plea "was her decision informed by discussion with her legal defense team in Russia," a statement from the lawyers said. "Brittney sets an example of being brave. She decided to take full responsibility for her actions as she knows that she is a role model for many people."
"The nature of her case, the insignificant amount of the substance and BG's personality and history of positive contributions to global and Russian sport," the statement continued, makes the legal team hopeful Griner's plea will help her avoid a "severe sentence."
Griner's legal team said they expect the trial to wrap up around the beginning of August. However, they added, Griner's detention has been authorized through December 20.