Pregnant British drug mule Bella Culley has been told she can walk free from prison in Georgia – if her family pay a huge fine.
The 19-year-old could be out in weeks in a dramatic change of fortune as her lawyers are on the verge of a plea bargain breakthrough.
The Teesside teenager’s trial was due to start today but was adjourned at the last minute as Judge Giorgi Gelashvili hailed the ‘ongoing success in negotiations’.
He told her lawyer he could move the date of the next hearing ‘the very moment you reach an agreement’ in a 40-minute session in the Black Sea nation’s capital, Tbilisi.
Malkhaz Salakaia, defending, told journalists gathered outside: ‘If her family is ready to pay the sum that the state is demanding she can go straight to the airport.’
But the 19-year-old’s mother, Lyanne Kennedy, who travelled to be by her side, is in turmoil as they are being asked to hand over a vast sum to secure her freedom.
‘It’s a lot of money for us,’ she said after the hearing at Tbilisi City Court, though she cannot disclose the amount.
‘They offered us a layered approach: this and this much to let her go immediately, and then another [lower] offer where she serves some amount.
Bella Culley has been told she can walk free from prison in Georgia if her family pay a huge fine
Bella May Culley, 19, was detained at Tbilisi Airport in Georgia on suspicion of carrying 31lbs of cannabis
Bella’s mother Lyanne seen outside court today
‘I don’t know what to do.’
Bella can walk free immediately if they pay a significant fee or serve a dramatically reduced sentence for a lesser amount.
Mr Salakaia said: ‘Negotiations are close to completion. The higher the fine will be, the less time she will serve including a full release.
‘That’s what we are negotiating on at the moment. At this moment Bella’s family isn’t ready to pay the amount requested.
‘It all depends on Bella’s parents. The prosecution is willing to let her go on the same day the demanded amount is paid.
‘We are debating and negotiating on that aspect and its likely that this compromise will be reached before the [next hearing on] October 9.’
Bella was caught landing in Tbilisi in May with £200,000 worth of cannabis in her luggage.
The mother to be claims she was forced to peddle the drugs from Thailand to Georgia, claiming she was burned with a hot iron and shown a beheading video by a Thai gang.
Bella’s aunt Kerry and grandfather seen outside Tbilisi City Court today
Bella’s family members walking into court in Tbilisi on Tuesday. The Teesside teenager’s trial was due to start today but was adjourned at the last minute
Bella seen in court in Tbilisi after she was detained at the city’s airport
Bella Culley’s mother pictured on July 25 outside Tbilisi City Court
CCTV footage shows the Brit going through the automated gates at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Thailand
The British 19-year-old claimed she was violently coerced into trafficking the narcotics
Culley was denied bail after the teenager was deemed a flight risk
The alleged drug-filled suitcase of Culley
She then claims she flew to Tbilisi with 31lbs of illegal cargo hidden in her bags.
Today she entered court wearing a black T-shirt with her hair in a bun and appeared calm, occasionally shooting her mother a warm smile.
Lyanne, 44, was seen dabbing tears from her eyes during proceedings. After the hearing she cried to her daughter: ‘Bella, I will see you in the morning.’
Auntie Kerrie Culley, 51, and Bella’s grandfather also supported her.
Mr Salakaia told court: ‘Negotiations over a plea bargain are ongoing, and not without success.
‘We’ve heard counter-proposals from the prosecution. We need more time regarding a plea bargain for the family to better prepare for all technicalities.’
Asked if he would have his position ready regarding a plea bargain by September 24, Mr Salakaia said they would need more time.
Mr Salakaia asked for bail on a 50,000 lari (£13,750) bond, citing Bella’s pregnancy. ‘She will be here [in Tbilisi], her family will take care of her, and she is ready to cooperate,’ he said.
Bella’s father Niel Culley and his sister Kerrie Culley (Bella’s aunt) in Tbilisi following her arrest
Bella Culley’s lawyer Malkhaz Salakaia outside court
Pictured: A bikini-clad Bella with a cannabis joint in her mouth
Culley is languishing in the notorious Women’s Penitentiary Number Five
But his request was denied.
Judge Gelashvili said: ‘Of course we are worried about Miss Bella’s health and that of her child, and obviously her child should develop in a free environment.
‘Taking into consideration the ongoing success in negotiations and that the family need more time to consider the prosecutions offer, we can pledge that we can move the date of the next trial the very moment you reach an agreement.’
The case was adjourned until the next hearing on October 9.
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