Who is Lyanne Kennedy? Mother Fighting to Free Daughter Bella Culley From Georgian Jail

A heartbreaking scene unfolded outside Women’s Penitentiary Number Five in Tbilisi, Georgia. Lyanne Kennedy, 44, the mother of British teenager Bella Culley, was seen leaving the prison in tears after visiting her 19-year-old daughter.

Bella, who is pregnant, was arrested in May 2024 at Tbilisi Airport after authorities found 31 pounds of cannabis worth £200,000 hidden in her luggage. She now faces a possible prison sentence of up to 15 years.

A mother’s struggle

Lyanne spent more than two hours inside the prison before walking out with Bella’s 82-year-old grandfather, William Culley. Witnesses said she appeared emotional and made animated gestures while speaking to family members.

The family’s biggest fear is that Bella could give birth to her first child behind bars. Georgian prosecutors have offered a plea deal that could allow Bella to walk free if the family pays a fine of around £100,000.

Speaking after court proceedings, Lyanne said:
“It’s a lot of money for us. They offered us two options — a bigger sum to let her go immediately or a lower sum where she would serve some time. I don’t know what to do.”

The legal fight

According to Professor Anna Putkaradze, a Georgian lawyer who specializes in high-profile foreigner cases, fines in such cases are usually set at about half the street value of the drugs. If the authorities calculate the value using UK prices instead of Georgian prices, that would explain the £100,000 demand.

Bella’s lawyer, Malkhaz Salakaia, told reporters that if the family pays the required sum, she could be released straight away and even fly home. However, his request for bail was denied despite citing Bella’s pregnancy.

The court adjourned her trial until October 9, 2024, while both sides continue plea bargain negotiations.

Bella’s claims

Bella has told the court that she was forced into trafficking drugs by a Thai gang. She claims gang members burned her with a hot iron, showed her a beheading video, and threatened her life before she carried the cannabis from Thailand to Georgia.

Despite her explanation, Georgian law treats drug smuggling as a serious crime, often carrying sentences of 15 years to life.

Family’s desperate situation

Lyanne does not own property in the UK and Bella’s father, Niel Culley, lives in Vietnam, leaving the family with very limited options to raise such a huge amount of money.

After the hearing, Lyanne broke down and told her daughter:
“Bella, I will see you in the morning.”

The next few weeks will be crucial as the family decides whether they can raise the fine or risk Bella giving birth in prison.