Bella Culley may raise her baby in the same prison housing Georgia’s most notorious killer.
Bella Culley’sArrest at Tbilisi Airport Uncovers £200K Cannabis Haul
Culley was detained on May 11 after arriving in Georgia on a flight from Bangkok via Sharjah, UAE. Customs officers at Tbilisi International Airport discovered the drugs, with a street value estimated at £200,000, concealed in her luggage. Local authorities believe the arrest was part of a larger sting operation.
During a court hearing in Tbilisi, Culley revealed she is pregnant and has chosen to remain silent regarding the charges. Her lawyer described her as terrified and confused, and a medical examination will confirm her pregnancy.
Life Behind Bars with Georgia’s Most Notorious Female Killer
Culley’s current cellmate, 35-year-old Magda Papidze, is the only inmate serving a full life sentence at the facility. In 2015, Papidze murdered her husband, Omar Kaphiashvili, while he slept and later strangled their son. Investigators discovered extensive forensic evidence, including bloodstains and a diary outlining her plan. She was convicted within two hours—the first unanimous female conviction in Georgia’s legal history.
Conditions inside Women’s Penitentiary Number Five have been widely criticized. A 2006 report described strong smells of human waste and cigarette smoke. Former legal representatives for Papidze said inmates receive only an hour of “air time” each day in small, roofless cells. Papidze reportedly lives in solitary confinement due to the nature of her crimes but could be allowed to mix with other prisoners, including Culley, if circumstances change.
Family’s Desperate Search and Concerns for Unborn Child
Culley’s arrest shocked her family, who believed she was on holiday in Thailand. Her father, Niel, and aunt, Kerrie, flew to Georgia but were initially denied visitation rights due to bureaucratic restrictions. Her grandfather, William Culley, 80, expressed fears he might never see her again.
Before her arrest, Culley had been documenting her travels across Southeast Asia on social media, often sharing provocative images and referencing a lifestyle of risk and romance akin to a “Bonnie and Clyde” narrative. Authorities are now examining her online posts for additional clues.
She was reportedly carrying wads of cash and traveled under mysterious circumstances from the Philippines to Thailand, then onward to Georgia. How she came to be in possession of the drugs remains unclear, and no official statement has been made regarding accomplices or trafficking networks.
Legal Implications and Potential Sentencing
Legal experts in Georgia suggest that her young age and pregnancy might weigh in her favor if she cooperates fully. However, given the volume of drugs seized, prosecutors are pursuing severe charges that carry the possibility of life imprisonment.
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Her great-grandfather, Frank Cook, was a former Labour MP for Stockton North, serving until 2010. The family’s political legacy adds another layer of public interest to an already high-profile case.
As the investigation continues, international attention remains fixed on Culley’s legal fate—and whether she will ultimately spend her life behind bars alongside one of Georgia’s most infamous murderers.
