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'My heart goes out': Support pours in for Brittney Griner's wife Cherelle as WNBA star gets 9 years in jail

The court 'found the defendant guilty' of smuggling and possessing 'a significant amount of narcotics' and also fined Brittney Grimer around $16,597

WNBA star Brittney Griner, who was arrested in February 2022 at a Moscow airport on accusations that she was smuggling vape cartridges with cannabis oil, has been sentenced to nine years in prison on drug charges by a Russian court on Thursday, August 4, 2022. After the verdict, heartfelt messages of support for Brittney and especially for her wife Cherelle Griner started pouring in, with many calling it "an unimaginable situation."

According to CNN, Judge Anna Sotnikova of the Khimki city court delivered the sentence and said that the court took into account Brittney's partial admission of guilt, remorse for the deed, state of health, and charitable activities. As per The Australian,  The court’s decision, where prosecutors had asked that Brittney be sentenced to 9.5 years in jail, comes a week after the Biden administration confirmed it made an offer to the Russian government for the release of Griner and former US Marine Paul Whelan, as per CNBC. In a statement on August 4, 2022, President Joe Biden called the prison sentence “unacceptable” and called for Brittney’s immediate release. Many others also feel that the verdict was not justified. One user tweeted, "This is disgusting! Tell me how nine years in prison is justified for a small amount of hash oil. ITS NOT! " Nancy Pelosi too pointed out, "The wrongful detainment & unjust sentencing of Brittney Griner are brazen & unacceptable violations of the rule of law by Putin."

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However, many people couldn't imagine the state of Brittney's wife Cherelle Griner. One said, "Watching #BrittneyGriner’s trial. She’s guilty. It’s brutal. The looks on her face kill me. I feel so bad. The timing was the absolute worst. The war broke out while she was on a plane. Her fine is $130,000. 9 YEARS prison. I’m heartbroken for her wife #CherelleGriner and family."

While Shakkira Harris of WRTV wrote, "I can only imagine how Brittney Griner is feeling right now. Or her wife, Cherelle. And her loved ones. This is an unimaginable situation. My heart goes out to them."

An ESPN SM specialist said, "I knew this was coming. I was prepped on this coming. And yet, my heart breaks no less for BG and Cherrelle Griner. To hear 9 years is insane. @WhiteHouse - please do what's right. Please bring her home. #WeAreBG #FreeBG."

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