Pregnant Teen Accused of Drug Smuggling Asks Georgian Court for Mercy

A 19-year-old pregnant teen, Bella Culley, accused of smuggling cannabis into Georgia, has appealed to the judge to understand her story from her perspective. During a hearing in Tbilisi, Culley expressed her gratitude in Georgian, saying "thank you," as it was confirmed that she is pregnant with a boy. The court was told that Culley's defence team is seeking a plea agreement and asking for her immediate release, arguing that she should not be incarcerated due to her pregnancy. However, the judge ruled that no new evidence had been presented to alter the previous ruling, and Culley will remain behind bars until a further hearing in September.

Key Takeaways:

• Bella Culley, a 19-year-old pregnant teen, is accused of smuggling cannabis into Georgia.
• Culley's defence team is seeking a plea agreement and asking for her immediate release due to her pregnancy.
• The defence team argued that Culley is expecting a boy and that being a mother for the first time should be a special occasion, allowing her to experience it in freedom.
• The prosecution argued that there is no proof that the crime was committed on purpose and that Culley should stay in prison due to a chance of committing the crime again.
• Culley's lawyer said that she is physically feeling okay despite the circumstances.
• A further hearing in the matter is set for early September, with the possibility of an earlier date if a plea deal is reached.

Statistics:

• Bella Culley is 19 years old.
• She is pregnant with a boy.
• The defence team is seeking a plea agreement of 50,000 Georgian Lari.
• Culley was detained at Tbilisi International Airport in May.
• A further hearing in the matter is set for early September.

Sources:

• The Mirror
• imedinews
• eas2west news