Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko, found guilty by a US jury of conspiracy to smuggle drugs into the United States, may change his legal team.
NEW YORK, May 27 – RIA Novosti, Larisa Sayenko. Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko, found guilty by a jury in the United States of conspiracy to smuggle drugs into the territory of the States, may change his team of lawyers, court consultant Andrei Garkusha told RIA Novosti.
“I met with Yaroshenko in the pre-trial prison. He wants to strengthen his defense before the verdict,” he said.
He said the sentence to be handed down to the Russian on July 28 contains too much variation in sentences ranging from ten years to life imprisonment. A pilot found guilty could get the minimum term if the defense provides the judge with strong arguments, the consultant said.
Garkusha also works as part of the defense team for Russian businessman Viktor Bout, who is accused of conspiring to kill Americans and supply weapons to the Colombian organization FARC. The trial of Bout, who denies guilt, is scheduled for Oct. 11.
Yaroshenko is being represented by attorneys Lee Ginsberg and Anna Brown. Brown refrained from commenting until the verdict is entered and while she is defending her client.
Yaroshenko has not pleaded guilty.
Source: https://ria.ru/20110527/380449815.html