Brittney Griner's statement to court ahead of verdict in Russia drugs trial

U.S. basketball player Brittney Griner, who was detained at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport and later charged with illegal possession of cannabis, looks on inside a defendants' cage before a court hearing in Khimki outside Moscow, Russia August 4, 2022. REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina/Pool

Here are some highlights from U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner's statement to a court in Russia on Thursday as she faced a verdict in a trial on drugs charges that could see her sentenced to up to 10 years in prison:

"My parents taught me two important things: one, take ownership of your responsibilities and two, work hard for everything that you have. That's why I pled guilty to my charges. I understand everything that has been said against me, the charges that are against me, and that is why I pled guilty. But I had no intent to break any Russian laws"