Kelly Smith, co-accused guilty in Joshlin kidnapping case

Kelly Smith, co-accused guilty in Joshlin kidnapping case

The three accused in the Joshlin Smith kidnapping and human trafficking case have been found guilty.

Joshlin Smith
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Judge Nathan Erasmas handed down judgment in the Western Cape High Court on Friday afternoon.

Joshlin's mother Kelly Smith, Jacquen Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn have stood trial for 2 months following the disappearance of the six-year-old from her home in Saldhana Bay last February.

The conduct of Kelly Smith under scrutiny.

Judge Nathan Erasmus said her timeline of events on why Joshlin disappeared is inconsistent.

 READ: KZN sergeant in hospital after allegedly killing child, 10

"On the one version, she was aware that Joshlin was not at home at lunchtime, then why not go look for the child? But you find it more appropriate to go charge your phone instead of looking for the child," said Erasmus.

"Then you tell everybody the child made you famous. Then you go jiving and dancing on the 3rd of March. There are many more. This is not the conduct of somebody that's unaware of what happened to her child."

Erasmus questioned the credibility of the other co-accused, Jacquen Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn.

He pointed out that Appollis admitted to making things up.

"It's prompted me to pose the question of where sudden talents came from. Because there was information in those statements that the police had no knowledge of similarly, with Mr. van Rhyn."


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