Kathryne Fuller, 29, will be returning home to South Africa. She was charged with possession of cocaine in Uganda after she took the contaminated substance with Amazing Race producer, Jeff Rice, last month. Rice died, and Fuller was left paralysed on the right side of her body. She pleaded guilty to the charge, and paid a $420 fine to avoid imprisonment.

Rice was found dead in a Kampala hotel on February 18, while Fuller was found unconscious in the same room.

She will now return home to South Africa and seek medical treatment that may help to establish exactly what caused the paralysis, and if anything can be done to reverse it.

Police have arrested a cab driver who sold the pair the drugs.

Ms Sylvia Nabaggala, the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate, who presided over the case:

This should be looked at as a second chance being given to the accused who is alive by the God’s chance. The accused could have lost her life and she should use this to reflect her life instead and not indulge in drugs.

Fuller had the option of paying the $420 fine, or face six months’ imprisonment. She spoke after the court appearance:

I took cocaine and I passed out. I can’t remember what happened after that. I woke up in the hospital. I feel much better knowing that I’m free to go.

I have to go to South Africa for them to figure out what is wrong, for them to do an MRI [scan] to figure out what exactly is not working and why it’s not working.

Initial suspicions stated that attackers had poisoned the pair, but this was disproved by an official toxicology report that confirmed the narcotic had been cut with a ‘lethal additive’.

Fuller’s father, Stewart Fuller, said he was happy to be taking his daughter home:

I think the fine was reasonable [and] I think she will remember this for a very long time.

He had earlier criticised his daughter’s mistake, but stood by her throughout the ordeal:

I am cross, extremely cross. She’s an extremely bright woman who made a mistake,’ he said in an earlier interview.

After this, she’ll have to prove herself. We’ve been through hell, but which father wouldn’t rush to support his daughter?

Moses Kalanzi, the accused, was yesterday charged with manslaughter and a negligent act causing death, as well as two drug-related offenses.

[Source: DailyMail]