Bella Culley, 19 and facing life behind bars, told a Georgia court: “I hope you understand my story through my eyes. I never thought something like this would happen to me.”
Pregnant Brit ‘drug mule’ Bella Culley has issued a plea to see her story “through my eyes” – as it emerged she is due to have a boy.
The teenager is facing life behind bars in Georgia after allegedly taking cannabis into the country. At a hearing today Bella – who has previously claimed to have been forced by torture – told the judge: “I hope you understand my story through my eyes. I never thought something like this would happen to me.”
The 19-year-old, whose mum Lyanne was also in the courtroom in the country’s capital Tbilisi, then said “thank you” in Georgian. It was revealed in the courtroom that Bella recently underwent medical tests and is due to have a boy – with her mum looking emotional at the news. Outside the courtroom, Lyanne later said of her daughter: “She’s feeling pregnant.”
And as she left the courtroom, Bella’s mum also reportedly told her: “I’ll come and see you tomorrow, I love you.” Prosecutor Vakhtang Tsalughelashvili had told the court that the crime was “heavy”. But defence lawyer Malkhaz Salakia said there was no evidence it was committed on purpose. The prosecutor said there was no new evidence from the defence to set Bella free and she should stay in prison given there is a chance of her committing the crime again.
Defence lawyer Mr Salakia said: “Bella will become a mother soon, she is expecting a boy. I want her to feel this motherhood in freedom. It’s a moment of her becoming a mother for the first time in her life – she turned 19 this June. Since the crime committed is not connected to Georgia, and her family has been here – father before and now the mother is here – they are here to look after her, and there is no possibility of influencing the witnesses because they are police and officials.
“She can be assigned to visit the police department two times per month or everyday, however the judge decides – she will fulfil her duty. It’s summer, and a pregnant woman needs special hygiene in the month of July – we are offering a plea agreement of 50,000 [Georgian Lari], which will be paid immediately and we ask her immediately to be set free.”
But the judge, Giorgi Gelashvili, concluded that no new evidence had been introduced from the defence side – except that it’s hot in prison – to change the previous decision, so Bella would stay in prison. Another hearing in the case is scheduled for early September. The judge explained that if there is a plea agreement then an earlier date could be set.
Bella, from Billingham, Teesside, vanished in Thailand before turning up in Georgia where she was arrested at Tbilisi International Airport in May. She has been accused of taking cannabis and hashish into the country. Outside court, Bella’s lawyer said his client was physically feeling OK.