American basketball star Brittney Griner is detained in Russian airport
American basketball star Brittney Griner has appeared by way of video hyperlink from a detention centre outdoors Moscow as a courtroom in Russia started listening to her enchantment in opposition to a nine-year jail sentence for drug possession.
The listening to was scheduled to start at 1pm native time (6am EST) on Tuesday, however proceedings have been delayed for 2 hours following a request by Ms Griner’s legal professionals.
Ms Griner’s defence workforce started by arguing that the skilled who analysed the cartridges that led to her arrest was “unqualified” and requested that her “excessively harsh” sentence be lowered, NBC Information reported.
“Given the shortage of intent and given Griner’s contribution to Russian sports activities, the Protection considers the punishment ‘excessively harsh’,” tweeted Molly Hunter with NBC Information earlier than including that they’d requested at hand down a brand new sentence.
The US athlete was “very nervous” forward of the listening to, her authorized workforce mentioned, including that she doesn’t “count on miracles” within the ruling on her case, which is predicted to be delivered as we speak.
The Phoenix Mercury star, who had performed for Russian workforce UMMC Ekaterinburg since 2014 through the WNBA offseason, was detained on 17 February at Moscow airport, shortly earlier than Russia launched its invasion in Ukraine.
Attorneys argue Griner’s sentence ‘excessively harsh’
Brittney Griner’s defence workforce pushed again in opposition to the nine-year sentence that was handed all the way down to the WNBA star this previous summer time, insisting that it was “extreme”.
“The punishment imposed on Griner doesn’t correspond to the gravity of the crime,” Maria Blagovolina, one among Ms Griner’s legal professionals, mentioned on Tuesday within the Russian courtroom. “9 years in jail is a sentence that contradicts judicial follow.”
“There was no intent in her actions … The substance was used for medical functions.”
Johanna Chisholm25 October 2022 12:35
Griner’s legal professionals: Sentence doesn’t align with worldwide or Russian authorized norms
One in every of Brittney Griner’s legal professionals, Alexander Boykov, argued whereas making an emotional and reportedly “private” handle to the courtroom that the nine-year sentence that was handed all the way down to the WNBA star in August not solely doesn’t align with worldwide regulation, however breaks from Russian “authorized norms”.
“Protection lawyer Alexander Boykov talking now, sounds emotional and private, in response to our reporter in courtroom,” tweeted NBA reporter Molly Hunter. “Says he deeply sympathizes with Griner and argues that not solely does the decision not line up with int’l authorized norms — it’s additionally outdoors of Russian authorized norms.”
Johanna Chisholm25 October 2022 12:33
Griner’s protection debates pre-detention time served
As Brittney Griner reportedly vented her frustration about being unable to listen to individuals within the courtroom as she appeared by way of a video hyperlink, asking them to talk louder, her defence workforce argued that the skilled who analysed the cartridges that led to her arrest was “unqualified” and that there have been procedural violations all through the investigation and detention, NBC Information reported.
“Protection workforce now arguing: Given the shortage of intent and given Griner’s contribution to Russian sports activities, the Protection considers the punishment “excessively harsh.” Protection workforce asks to cancel the present sentence of almost 9 years and hand down a brand new sentence,” tweeted Molly Hunter with NBC Information.
The overseas correspondent added that there was some confusion about pre-detention time served and the way that point can be counted in the direction of Ms Griner’s sentence.
“There’s debate over the precise size of sentencing – does 1 pre-detention day equal 1 full sentence day?” tweeted Ms Hunter. “No, apparently. Her 8 months of pre-detention counts for 12 months of her sentence. So everybody agrees the present sentence means she has 8 YEARS remaining.”
Johanna Chisholm25 October 2022 12:14
Griner seems ‘depleted’ whereas showing by way of video in courtroom
NBC reporter Molly Hunter shared an image from the information outlet’s correspondent based mostly in Moscow, who’s attending the enchantment listening to for WNBA star Brittney Griner on Tuesday.
“Our reporter in courtroom, who has a better view of Brittney Griner’s display screen, says she’s appears notably depleted as we speak. Unhappy, drained. (Understandably.)” tweeted Ms Hunter, whereas sharing an image of Ms Griner’s display screen from contained in the Russian courtroom.
Johanna Chisholm25 October 2022 12:05
Russian courtroom begins listening to Griner enchantment
A Russian courtroom started listening to an enchantment by US WNBA basketball star Brittney Griner on Tuesday in opposition to her conviction and nine-year jail sentence for possession and smuggling of medication. The courtroom session started after a virtually two-hour adjournment requested by her legal professionals.
Three judges have been presiding over the appeals courtroom in Krasnogorsk close to Moscow, whereas Griner was participating by way of video hyperlink from a detention centre within the city of Novoye Grishino, simply outdoors Moscow.
Elizabeth Rood, the US chargee d’affaires in Moscow, was current at Tuesday’s enchantment listening to.
Johanna Chisholm25 October 2022 11:34
Brittany Griner might be moved to notorious penal colony if US just isn’t capable of safe her return
Brittany Griner might be transferred to a Russian penal colony if the courtroom upholds her nine-year jail sentence as we speak, and the US is unsuccessful in putting a deal for a prisoner swap.
Her legal professionals mentioned if the Khimki metropolis courtroom’s determination is upheld, the “authorized course of might be mainly over”.
The US State Division has mentioned that Griner is “wrongfully detained” and the Biden administration mentioned it’s negotiating a take care of Russia to free the WNBA star.
Her spouse Cherelle Griner has expressed fears over the chance, saying: “My mind can’t even fathom it,” in an interview to CBS.
Russia’s jail colony community has at the least 650 penal establishments which can be barrack and dorm-style detention camps – and have the fame of being a number of the worst detention camps on the planet.
The inhabitants perform exhausting labour as soon as they attain there by a prepare journey that may final greater than a month, and communication with the prisoner is nearly invariably unstable.
A report by the US Division of State discovered that overcrowding, poor sanitation and heating, and meals shortages are a number of the main issues on the camps together with studies of systemic abuses, reminiscent of torture and sexual violence.
Shweta Sharma25 October 2022 11:00
Griner pictured as she awaits delayed enchantment listening to
Brittney Griner is participating within the session held on the Moscow Regional Court docket by way of video name from a detention centre the place she is held.
She was pictured caged in her jail cell within the first photographs of her through the listening to.
Shweta Sharma25 October 2022 10:47
Griner enchantment listening to begin delayed
A courtroom in Russia has delayed the beginning of Brittney Griner’s enchantment listening to in opposition to her nine-year jail sentence for drug possession.
The listening to was scheduled to start at 1pm native time (6am EST), however has been pushed again by two hours following a request from Griner’s legal professionals.
Her legal professionals, Maria Blagovolina and Alexander Boykov, requested the delay as they’d been held up attending to the courtroom.
The listening to will now start at 3pm native time (8am EST).
Shweta Sharma25 October 2022 10:36
Three more than likely outcomes from as we speak’s listening to
After Brittney Griner’s legal professionals current their arguments in courtroom as we speak for her to obtain a lowered sentence, her workforce are anticipating three doable outcomes.
Alexander Boykov of the Moscow Authorized Heart and Maria Blagovolina, a accomplice on the Rybalkin, Gortsunyan, Dyakin and Companions regulation agency, mentioned the primary end result might be that the courtroom doesn’t change the unique verdict. In that case, her sentence of 9 years in a Russian penal colony would stand.
In a second doable end result, the courtroom might determine to overrule the sentence and ship it again to the decrease courtroom for reconsideration.
Alternatively, the appeals courtroom can unilaterally determine to cut back Griner’s jail time period with out referring the matter again to the unique courtroom that sentenced her.
Shweta Sharma25 October 2022 09:45
Brittney Griner at ‘weakest second’ in Russia, her spouse mentioned
Brittney Griner is at her “absolute weakest second in life proper now”, Griner’s spouse mentioned in an interview earlier this month.
Cherelle Griner advised CBS Information programme “This Morning” that her spouse, a two-time Olympic gold medalist who was taking part in in Russia through the WNBA low season, is afraid of being forgotten by the US.
“She’s very afraid about being left and forgotten in Russia, or simply fully used to the purpose of her detriment,” Cherelle Griner mentioned.
She mentioned Brittney Griner advised her in a cellphone name that she felt “like my life simply doesn’t matter”.
“Like, y’all simply don’t see the necessity to get me again house? Am I nothing?” Cherelle Griner quoted her spouse as saying. It wasn’t clear when the decision came about, although CBS aired its programme on 6 October.
Shweta Sharma25 October 2022 09:00