U.S. basketball player Griner appeal to be heard Oct 25 - Moscow court

MOSCOW. Oct 3 (Interfax) - Moscow regional court has set a date for hearing an appeal from American basketball player Brittney Griner, convicted of drug trafficking, for the end of October.

"The hearing is scheduled [to begin at] 11 a.m. October 25," the court told Interfax on Monday.

In the appeal, the defense team asks the court to overturn the conviction.

During her trial at a court in Khimki earlier, Griner's lawyers had requested an acquittal or a penalty below the statutory minimum.

On August 4, the Khimki City Court sentenced Griner to nine years of imprisonment at a penal colony and a fine of one million rubles for smuggling a narcotic substance.

Griner pleaded guilty in court, but said she had no intent to commit the crime.