Prosecutor wants 55 days to gather evidence

BELLA MAY CULLEY WAS ARRESTED FOR ALLEGED DRUG TRAFFICKING

- By FELICITY COLLINSON

BELLA May Culley’s lawyer says the prosecutor in the high-profile alleged drugs trafficking case wants 55 days to gather evidence ahead of trial.

Billingham teenager Bella was arrested on suspicion of drug traf-ficking in Georgia last week after ini-tially being reported missing in Thai-land by her worried family last Tuesday.

She is now being held at Women’s Prison No.5 in Rustavi, south of the Georgian capital of Tbilisi with a potential 20-year prison term ahead.

The 18-year-old has said she is pregnant.

Her dad Neil Culley and aunt Kerrie Culley met Bella’s legal representative La Todua at her office in Tbilisi on Friday, in a meeting that lasted about an hour.

It is understood Bella's relatives are trying to arrange to see her, with Ms Todua confirming that Bella “has the right to demand this short-term visit from her family”.