British teen Bella Culley case delayed to reach ‘plea bargain’

The trial of a British teenager accused of drug smuggling in Georgia was postponed for the “conclusion of the plea bargain”.

Appearing at Tbilisi City Court, Bella Culley, 19, of Billingham, Teesside, had previously been told she could face up to 15 years in prison or life in prison if convicted.

His family is understood to have raised enough money to significantly reduce the prison sentence imposed.

Malkhaz Salakaia, who represented the heavily pregnant Ms. Culley, said she planned to appeal to the Georgian president to pardon her after completing the plea deal.

Judge Giorgi Gulashvili said the prosecution and defense teams needed more time to finalize the amount required for Ms. Culley’s release.

The young man’s mother and grandmother attended the hearing.

At the previous hearing in September, the family was told: “significant” amount The money will lead to the teenager’s release.

The case was postponed until October 28.

Ms Culley first went missing in Thailand before she was arrested at Tbilisi International Airport on May 10.

He is understood to have flown in from Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

Georgia Police said officers seized narcotic drugs from a travel bag.

Ms Culley was held in custody for months while the prosecution investigated where the 12 kg (26 lbs) of cannabis and 2 kg (4.4 lbs) of hashish came from and whether she planned to give them to someone else.

One hearing in July He pleaded not guilty to charges of illegal drug possession and trafficking and claimed that he was “forced to do so through torture”.

“I just wanted to travel,” he said. “I am a good person. I am a university student. I am a clean person. I do not use drugs.”