A pregnant British teenager on trial in Georgia for drug smuggling could be released from prison if she pays a “substantial” fine.
Bella May Culley, 19, is facing life imprisonment for carrying 13 kilograms of cannabis into the ex-Soviet country.
But defence and prosecution teams are currently negotiating the terms of a bargain which would see Culley freed, according to reports.
During a hearing at Tbilisi City Court, Culley, from Billingham in County Durham, smiled at her family, telling them: "I love you."
Culley, who is four months away from giving birth to a boy after sleeping with an unidentified British man during her travels, appeared in court on Tuesday wearing a black T-shirt.
Judge Giorgi Gelashvili ruled that Culley will remain in custody until the next hearing on October 9 unless a deal is reached sooner.
Her backpacking journey across Europe and Asia started in the Philippines just after Easter, it is understood.
The aspiring nurse regularly posted her journey on social media, but lost contact with her family while in Thailand in early May.
She was then arrested by Georgian Police at Shota Rustaveli Tbilisi International Airport on May 10.
Local media said Culley was found with “34 hermetically sealed packages containing marijuana were found in the passenger’s bag, as well as 20 packages of hashish” worth up to £200,000.
At a hearing in July, Culley pleaded not guilty to charges of possession and trafficking illegal drugs.
The higher the fine will be, the less time she will serve
She claimed she was "forced to do this through torture" with a hot iron and shown a beheading video by a Thai gang.
"I just wanted to travel," Culley said. "I am a good person. I am a student at university. I am a clean person. I don't do drugs."
Her legal team confirmed that they are now close to clinching a deal which will grant her freedom with a significant payout.
Malkhaz Salakaia told The Sun: "Negotiations are close to completion. The higher the fine will be, the less time she will serve including the possibility of a full release.
“Thats what we are negotiating at the moment. At this moment Bella's family isn't ready to pay the amount requested.”
