[quote]A Co Tyrone woman accused of drug smuggling is considering pleading guilty in return for a reduced jail sentence in Peru, a newspaper has claimed.
Michaella McCollum from Dungannon and Scottish woman Melissa Reid, both 20, are being held on drug trafficking charges in the South American country.
A total of 24lb (11kg) of cocaine, with an estimated street value of £1.5m, was found hidden in food packets in their luggage while they tried to board a flight to Spain at Lima International Airport in August.
Both women maintain that they knew the drugs were in their bags - but that a gang forced them at gunpoint to carry the cocaine.
According to the Mail On Sunday, Ms Reid's lawyer has now agreed a plea bargain with prosecutors that will see her plead guilty to drugs trafficking "in return for a sentence of six years and eight months".
Melissa's father had already been quoted as saying he was "not 100%" about the pair's version of events and that he thinks they should plead guilty to get a lesser sentence."
The newspaper said it spoke to the Scottish accused by phone.
"I did it under duress, I still maintain that, and I am glad I do not have to say I accepted money to do it," she told the newspaper.
Ms Reid added: 'I am really scared about what I am about to do but I am also relieved that there could be a light at the end of the tunnel.[/quote]
Source: [URL="http://www.u.tv/News/Peru-accused-considering-plea-bargain/40cf9809-ae3e-4518-9983-bfa99a4a76df"]http://www.u.tv/News/Peru-accused-co...3-bfa99a4a76df[/URL]
Original Article on Incident: [URL]http://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1297858[/URL]
What a trainwreck of a title
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