Michaella McCollum from Dungannon in Tyrone and Melissa Reid from Glasgow, now known as the Peru Two, who pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges in court on Tuesday, have had their guilty pleas rejected by the prosecution.
According to Sky News, the prosecutor Juan Rosas claimed that the pleas had been rejected as the women claimed only partial guilt for their actions. He went further to claim that the proceedings would be concluded a lot more quickly when they admitted their guilt.
Mr. Rosas stated: “A new statement is required by the women and they will have to admit not only that they came here to traffic drugs but also that they did not tell the truth with respect to them being kidnapped, they have to make a full admission of responsibility for all of the charges brought by the prosecution.”
The Judge in the case, Miguel Puente, set a court date of October 1st for the sentencing of the pair. The girls delivered their pleas to a closed hearing.
Sky News claims that McCollum and Reid could face a minimum 6 years and eight months and could face a maximum sentence of 15 years. It had been claimed that the pair could serve jail time in the UK.
Mr Rosas added: “If they continue to maintain this incredible version of events then the prosecution is not going to accept them taking advantage of a quick conclusion of proceedings.”
Melissa Reid’s parents are still claiming that she is innocent of the charges but they would need the guilty verdict to hurry up the process.
