This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24228723
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Peru drugs: Michaella McCollum and Melissa Reid admit charge | Peru drugs: Michaella McCollum and Melissa Reid admit charge |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Two women from the UK have pleaded guilty to attempting to smuggle 11kg (24lb) of cocaine out of Peru. | Two women from the UK have pleaded guilty to attempting to smuggle 11kg (24lb) of cocaine out of Peru. |
| Michaella McCollum, of Dungannon, County Tyrone, and Melissa Reid, of Lenzie, near Glasgow, appeared before a judge at a closed hearing in Lima. | Michaella McCollum, of Dungannon, County Tyrone, and Melissa Reid, of Lenzie, near Glasgow, appeared before a judge at a closed hearing in Lima. |
| The women, both 20, were caught with the drugs - said to be worth £1.5m - at Lima airport in August, and had said they were forced into carrying them. | The women, both 20, were caught with the drugs - said to be worth £1.5m - at Lima airport in August, and had said they were forced into carrying them. |
| They will be jailed for at least six years and eight months, the court said. | |
| On Tuesday, the pair were transported by van under armed guard from the prison where they are being held to Callao prison where the hearing took place. | On Tuesday, the pair were transported by van under armed guard from the prison where they are being held to Callao prison where the hearing took place. |
| They were then returned to the women's prison where they are being held to await their sentencing hearing on 1 October. | They were then returned to the women's prison where they are being held to await their sentencing hearing on 1 October. |
| A spokesman for the Peruvian court confirmed they had admitted the offences. | A spokesman for the Peruvian court confirmed they had admitted the offences. |
| It is understood the pleas were made in exchange for a shorter sentence. | It is understood the pleas were made in exchange for a shorter sentence. |
| A court spokesman said: "They will automatically have a sixth off the minimum jail sentence of eight years and will be sentenced to six years and eight months in prison." | A court spokesman said: "They will automatically have a sixth off the minimum jail sentence of eight years and will be sentenced to six years and eight months in prison." |
| Kidnapping claim | Kidnapping claim |
| McCollum and Reid had been stopped at Lima airport as they attempted to board a flight to Spain. | McCollum and Reid had been stopped at Lima airport as they attempted to board a flight to Spain. |
| They were found to be carrying cocaine hidden in food packets. | They were found to be carrying cocaine hidden in food packets. |
| The women had reportedly told the Peruvian authorities they were working in Ibiza and did not meet before they were both kidnapped at gunpoint and forced to travel to Majorca. | The women had reportedly told the Peruvian authorities they were working in Ibiza and did not meet before they were both kidnapped at gunpoint and forced to travel to Majorca. |
| They claimed they were then sent to Peru and forced to carry the drugs in their luggage. | They claimed they were then sent to Peru and forced to carry the drugs in their luggage. |
| It has been suggested that the women may be able to serve part of their sentence in a UK prison. | It has been suggested that the women may be able to serve part of their sentence in a UK prison. |
| The UK Foreign Office has confirmed there is a prisoner transfer agreement between the UK and Peru. | The UK Foreign Office has confirmed there is a prisoner transfer agreement between the UK and Peru. |
| The Ministry of Justice added that the country receiving the prisoner would pay the cost of them serving their sentence. | The Ministry of Justice added that the country receiving the prisoner would pay the cost of them serving their sentence. |
| Prisoners who want to serve their sentence in either Northern Ireland or Scotland have to apply to the prison service for their part of the UK. | Prisoners who want to serve their sentence in either Northern Ireland or Scotland have to apply to the prison service for their part of the UK. |
| A spokesman for the Northern Ireland Prison Service said McCollum would need to make representation initially to the Peruvian authorities. | A spokesman for the Northern Ireland Prison Service said McCollum would need to make representation initially to the Peruvian authorities. |