Brittney Griner in Russian court on July 1.Photo: KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP/Getty
Griner, 31, was walked into the court room — located in Khimki, a Moscow suburb — in handcuffs, wearing a Jimi Hendrix t-shirt. Once inside, she was placed in a cage with a bottle of water and a bag of cookies, according to Russian media reports,The Washington Postsaid.
The prosecutor reportedly called two witnesses during the trial; the customs agents who searched Griner’s bag when she was first arrested on Feb. 17, Griner’s lawyer Alexander Boikov told reporters.
Griner was not asked to say if she was innocent or guilty,NPR reported.
Rood also said she had “the opportunity to speak with Ms. Griner in the courtroom.”
“She is doing as well as can be expected during these difficult circumstances, and she asked me to convey that she is in good spirits and is keeping up the faith,” Rood said.
Griner’s next court date was set for July 7 at 2:30 p.m. Moscow time.
Griner’s trial comes more than four months after she was detained. The WNBA star was arrested on February 17 at Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow after officialsallegedly foundvape cartridges containing hash oil, an illegal substance in Russia, in her luggage.
“Our position for some time on this has been very clear. Brittney Griner should not be detained. She should not be detained for a single day longer,” Ned Price, State Department spokesperson, said in a press briefing on June 14.
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Brittney Griner.Christian Petersen/Getty
The two-time Olympic gold medalist’s wife, Cherelle Griner, expressed her gratitude “for this overwhelming show of support from Congress,“in a recent statement. “We need to be doing all we can to keep Brittney’s case on the forefront and finally put an end to this nightmare,” she added.
Cherelle, who calls her wife “BG,” said that she’s very concerned about her wife’s wellbeing during an appearance on Al Sharpton’s SiriusXM showKeepin' It Real.
“BG is struggling, she’s human,” Cherelle said. “She’s there terrified, she’s there alone.”
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“The House of Representatives has passed Congressman Greg Stanton’s bipartisan resolution. Stanton and many others are continuing to work with the White House, State Department and Brittney’s family to secure her safe return home,” per the Mercury statement.
If convicted, Griner faces up to 10 years in prison.
Julie Mazziotta
source: people.com
