Pregnant teenager Bella Culley, who is accused of being a ‘drug mule’, is reportedly close to reaching a plea deal in Georgia that could potentially see her released from prison.
The 19-year-old was facing a life sentence in Georgia after allegedly smuggling illegal drugs into the country.
During the latest hearing in Tbilisi, the Georgian capital, it was revealed that a plea agreement might be on the horizon, The Mirror reports.
This deal could result in Bella, who alleges she was coerced into crime through torture, being freed from prison by paying a fine.
It was also disclosed that Bella, who appeared in court dressed in black and sporting a new hairstyle, is 22 weeks pregnant.
Despite this, the judge refused bail, with the next hearing scheduled for October 9.
Bella’s mother, who attended the hearing, expressed her love for her daughter.
Bella, originally from Billingham, Teesside, disappeared in Thailand before reappearing in Georgia where she was arrested at Tbilisi International Airport in May.
Marijuana and hashish were reportedly discovered in her luggage.
In July, during a hearing, Bella stated: “I didn’t want to do this. I was forced by torture… All I wanted to do was to travel and this happened to me. I’m clean – I had nothing in my blood test. I wanted to make my family proud.”
Furthermore, at a subsequent hearing at the end of July, it was announced in court that Bella is expecting a boy.
At this hearing, Bella told the judge: “I hope you understand my story through my eyes. I never thought something like this would happen to me.”