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A young woman from the United Kingdom is currently facing drug smuggling charges in Georgia and expressed her hopes for the court to understand her perspective during her trial. Bella Culley, 19, from Billingham, Teesside, appeared at Tbilisi City Court where she shared her disbelief at the situation she found herself in. If convicted, she could potentially face a sentence of up to 20 years in jail or even life imprisonment.
During the brief 30-minute court session, Miss Culley had the support of her mother, Lyanne Kennedy, who appeared emotional upon learning the gender of her daughter’s unborn child. The prosecutor reiterated the charges against Bella Culley, outlining the quantity of illegal drugs that were discovered in her suitcase. The defense lawyer argued that there was no evidence to suggest that Miss Culley had any intention of breaking the law, claiming that she was coerced into the situation unknowingly.
Despite the challenging circumstances, Miss Culley expressed her gratitude in Georgian by saying “madloba” which means “thank you”. The next court hearing is scheduled for September unless a plea deal is reached beforehand. Miss Culley’s mother, visibly upset by the proceedings being delayed, promised her daughter that she would visit the following day, reiterating her love. Until the next hearing, Bella Culley will remain in prison number 5 where she has been detained since her arrest on 10 May after arriving in Tbilisi from Sharjah, UAE.
Before her arrest, Miss Culley had been missing in Thailand for a period of time. The prosecution had been investigating the origin of the drugs found in her possession, which included 12kg of marijuana and 2kg of hashish, and whether there was an intention to distribute them. Despite her claims of being forced into the situation under duress, the Georgian Police have seized the drugs from her travel bag at Tbilisi International Airport. The British Embassy has advised her family against speaking to the media regarding the ongoing case
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