Pregnant defendant Bella Culley’s legal team is seeking her early release from jail before her expected delivery date, according to information obtained by the Mirror.
Despite Culley, a 19-year-old British national, agreeing to a two-year prison sentence as part of a plea deal for allegedly attempting to smuggle drugs from Thailand into Georgia, her lawyers are pursuing avenues to secure her release before childbirth. The court in Tbilisi was informed that Culley’s family, which includes her mother, Lyanne Kennedy, and her father, Niel Culley, an oil rig worker, have paid £138,000 to the court.
The specifics of Culley’s confinement remain uncertain, with possibilities ranging from serving her full sentence in a women’s prison near Tbilisi, her current location, to potential house arrest or extradition to the UK. In an effort to expedite her departure from Georgia, Culley’s legal team is contemplating applying for a presidential pardon. Should this strategy fail, sources suggest that her pregnancy and exemplary behavior while incarcerated could lead to her parole release before childbirth.
If alternative release options prove unattainable, authorities in Georgia anticipate transferring Culley to a nearby hospital for childbirth before allowing her to raise the baby within a designated facility within the prison. During a recent court appearance, Culley, attired in a grey sleeveless cardigan and pink t-shirt with a new hairstyle, appeared surprised upon learning the plea deal details but later expressed joy towards her mother.
Culley’s lawyer had previously indicated that the amount paid towards fines could influence the duration of her sentence, potentially resulting in a reduced jail term. Following the court session, Culley’s mother disclosed that the court demanded a higher sum than the family could provide for her daughter’s release, noting a significant disparity between the requested and paid amounts.
The prosecutor confirmed that the terms of the plea deal had been met, while Culley’s lawyer affirmed that all involved parties had been duly informed, requesting a final court hearing to deliver the definitive judgment. Despite a request for bail ahead of the upcoming sentencing, the judge denied the motion citing insufficient legal grounds for changing Culley’s custody conditions.
Inquiring about the baby’s custody post-release, Culley sought reassurance from her lawyer, who confirmed that she would retain custody. Culley, a student nurse from Billingham, Teesside, went missing in Thailand before reappearing in Georgia, where she was apprehended with a sizable cannabis stash in her possession.
Alleging coercion by criminal elements, Culley claimed she was forced into drug trafficking through threats and violence. Her lawyer expressed optimism about her well-being and the progress of her pregnancy, emphasizing her ability to bond with the newborn after delivery.
