British national Bella Culley, known as a “drug mule,” has agreed to a plea deal with Georgian authorities, leading to a two-year jail sentence. The 19-year-old, who is expected to give birth in December, faces sentencing next week for allegedly trying to smuggle drugs into Georgia earlier this year.
During a brief session at Tbilisi City Court, Bella’s family, including her mother Lyanne Kennedy and father Niel Culley, managed to pay 500,000 Georgian Lari (£138,000) to the court for her case. Bella, dressed in a grey sleeveless cardigan and pink t-shirt with a new hairstyle, seemed surprised as the agreement details were disclosed.
Despite already spending five months in jail awaiting trial, Bella appeared cheerful and even waved at her mother during the hearing. The amount paid by the family was critical in determining the length of Bella’s sentence, with the chance of avoiding imprisonment entirely based on the sum contributed.
Following the proceedings, Lyanne mentioned that the court demanded a higher sum than what was paid for Bella’s immediate release. The initial demand was set at 800,000 Georgian Lari (£220,000) for her release. Both the prosecutor and Bella’s lawyer confirmed that the plea bargain terms had been met, leading to a final hearing scheduled for next Monday for the sentencing verdict.
Despite requests from Bella’s lawyer for her release on bail due to her advanced pregnancy, the judge denied the motion citing no legal grounds for a change in her current conditions. Bella’s lawyer assured her that she could keep her baby with her if she returned to jail.
The question remains whether Bella will serve her entire sentence in Tbilisi or if alternative arrangements such as house arrest or extradition to the UK will be considered. Bella, a student nurse from Billingham, Teesside, went missing in Thailand before being discovered in Georgia with a significant amount of cannabis and hashish in her possession.
Bella has claimed that she was coerced into trafficking drugs by a criminal gang who threatened her and her family. Despite the challenges she faces, Bella’s lawyer expressed that she is coping well and her pregnancy is progressing smoothly, ensuring she can bond with her baby once born.