Brittney Griner's case might be resolved shortly / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: AFP - Scanpix Credit AFP - Scanpix

The prosecutor in the Brittney Griner case has requested nine and a half years in prison for the WNBA star, according to what her lawyer Maria Blagovolina told the media.

Brittney Griner

Position:CAge:31Height:206 cmWeight:93 kgBirth place:Houston, United States of AmericaProfileNewsStatistics

Griner has been held in Moscow since February on charges of smuggling a gram of cannabis oil in her luggage when she was trying to enter Russia.

Griner arrived at the court in Khimki, in the Moscow region, for her eighth hearing. The trial continues with the closing arguments of the case.

The player faces a sentence of up to 10 years in prison. The prosecutor has only lowered the sentence request by six months. The verdict could come this Thursday.

The 31-year-old, 2.06-meter center held up from inside her cell a photo of her teammates from the UMMC Ekaterinburg, the Russian basketball team she played for during the WNBA offseason. Numerous foreign players who have played for Russian teams, among many others Marta Xargay and Anna Cruz, have campaigned in support of the American.

The 31-year-old Griner apologized in her final remarks in court.

"I made an honest mistake, and I hope your ruling does not end my life," WNBA star explained herself.

The two-time US basketball Olympic gold medalist pleaded guilty to drug charges last month in what her lawyers say was an attempt to take responsibility and receive clemency if she is ultimately found guilty and convicted.

The Griner case has already become a diplomatic problem. Joe Biden, president of the United States, has received a lot of pressure to try to return the player to the United States. There was even a proposition for an exchange of prisoners between the center and a former marine Paul Whelan for a Russian arms dealer who is detained in the United States.

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