Middlesbrough beautician Kimberly Hall pleads innocence over cocaine smuggling charge in US

Kimberly Hall spoke to ITV Tyne Tees reporter Gregg Easteal ahead of her court appearance in the US where she is charged with attempting to smuggle cocaine worth millions of pounds

A beautician from the UK facing up to 60 years in prison for allegedly smuggling two suitcases full of cocaine through the US has insisted she is "innocent" in an interview with ITV News.

Kimberly Hall, from Middlesbrough, pleaded her innocence ahead of a two-minute court appearance on Wednesday (13 November) in Chicago, where she is forced to wear two ankle tags as she awaits a trial.

The 28-year-old was stopped in the city's airport in August carrying a heavyweight 43kg of cocaine packed inside her holiday suitcases.

Speaking to ITV Tyne Tees, she said: "I am going to fight for people to see that I am innocent and, rather than a criminal, I'm a victim here."

Hall claims she only thought she was carrying cash for two men that she met on holiday who threatened her after flying her on a free trip to Mexico.

"I was dragged by my hair and I had a firearm held to my head and they said I’ll shoot you and that’s when I first thought 'I’m dead here, I’m dead'," she told ITV Tyne Tees.

Her suitcase’s real contents were exposed by homeland security officials as she attempted to board her connecting flight back to Britain in America.

"They opened it up and I thought 'what is that?' It wasn't visible," she explained. "It looked like a paper mache."

The Teessider said the "penny dropped" when she was asked what she was trying to bring in.

"That’s when I thought 'this is drugs'," she continued. "And they said 'we need to take you aside' and then that 'we’re gonna put the cuffs on you'. I just felt numb and I just started to cry hysterically."

Gregg Easteal said hopes of a swift resolution for the Hall family were dashed during a two-minute hearing in Cook County Court, where another procedural hearing was set for 15 January

Hall has refused to name the men who she claims gave her the cases for the safety of herself and loved ones.

"I fear my life for my family‘s life," she said.

Hall added: "You know I don’t feel like any good will come of that."

Admitting people will question how she found herself in this situation, Hall maintained her innocence.

She said: "There’s a difference between being naive and vulnerable and thinking 'that’s only cash - I can’t get into trouble'. To 'oh yeah, I’m gonna put 43kg of cocaine in a case and take it through an airport'.

"Nobody would knowingly do that and that, to me, is very obvious. If this was me as an outsider looking in, what I would think is 'this is clearly a set up'."

Following her arrest, Hall was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. She believes her condition explains what she admits were "poor" decisions.

The 28-year-old is charged with the manufacture or delivery of cocaine, which can be categorised as a Class X Felony in Illinois, depending on the amount of drugs involved. It can carry a jail sentence of up to 60 years.

The notion of such a lengthy jail term is not something she is willing to comprehend.

"The way I have been getting through this is one day at a time, so to think ahead down the line, I can't do that, I cant contemplate that," she said.

Travelling to America ahead of the trial, the defendant's father has also insisted on his daughter's innocence.

Speaking to ITV Tyne Tees ahead of the court case, he said: "Now I’ve hear it from the horse's mouth, so to speak, I’m even more convinced.

"We’ve sat down, we’ve had a proper heart to heart. I’ve asked you to tell me the truth, pull no punches."

He continued: "I know she’s innocent and I also know what she's been through. It's a hard fight what we are in the middle of now but whatever it takes..."

Our correspondent Gregg Easteal reports from Chicago:

The Chicago court case against suspected drugs mule Kimberly Hall from Teesside has been adjourned until 2025 - dashing any hopes her family harboured of a swift end to the case.

The 28 year old was arrested with 43kg of cocaine in two suitcases at the city’s main airport last August - the drugs have an estimated street value of £15 million.

The Middlesbrough beautician insists she is a victim, not a criminal, saying she was blackmailed and threatened with a gun by men she met on holiday who forced her to carry the cases back from Mexico through Chicago en route to Britain.

She insists she thought she was carrying cash for them, not drugs.

At her latest court hearing in Chicago earlier today the case was adjourned for a fifth time to January 15th next year - leaving her detained on bail in America until at least next year.

It means Kimberly Hall will spend Christmas at the hostel where she’s been given a bed as she awaits trial.Authorities have fitted her with two electronic ankle tags to ensure she doesn’t leave the country.

Her father John Hall from Middlesbrough was at his daughter’s side for today’s hearing.

He’s said he’s convinced his daughter is innocent and has vowed to do all he can to get her back home.

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