A South African mother and two accomplices have been sentenced to life in prison for the trafficking and kidnapping of six-year-old Joshlin Smith, who has been missing since February 2024.
Racquel “Kelly” Smith, along with her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis and their friend Steveno van Rhyn, were convicted after an eight-week trial at the Western Cape High Court. The child was last seen outside her home in Saldanha Bay, near Cape Town. Despite an intensive, highly publicized search, Joshlin has not been found.
While prosecutors allege the child was sold into slavery, this could not be conclusively proven in court. Nonetheless, the court found the trio guilty of trafficking and kidnapping.
“No Redemption” – Judge Delivers Verdict
Presiding Judge Nathan Erasmus issued life sentences to all three defendants for human trafficking, plus an additional 10 years each for kidnapping. Speaking during the sentencing, held in a local community centre to accommodate residents, he said the accused showed no remorse and added, “There is nothing redeeming or deserving of leniency in your actions.”
The sentencing was met with loud applause from members of the Middelpos community, still shaken by the girl’s disappearance.
Key Witnesses and Shocking Testimony
The trial featured testimony from more than 30 witnesses. One of the most significant came from Lourentia Lombaard, a friend and neighbor of Smith who turned state witness. She testified that Smith admitted to selling Joshlin to a traditional healer, or “sangoma,” who allegedly wanted the child for ritual purposes.
Other witnesses, including a pastor and a schoolteacher, recounted previous conversations where Smith talked about selling her children for money. During the trial, prosecutors described her as manipulative and deceitful, with a court-appointed social worker stating she appeared to be the “mastermind” of the trafficking operation.
Smith and her co-accused declined to testify or present a defense.
Family’s Plea and Continued Search
Joshlin’s grandmother, Amanda Smith-Daniels, made an emotional plea before sentencing, urging her daughter to reveal the child’s whereabouts. “No sentence will bring my grandchild back,” she said, calling the ordeal devastating for their family.
Police have vowed to continue the search for Joshlin, even beyond South African borders. “We will not rest until we know what happened to her,” said Western Cape Police Commissioner Thembisile Patekile.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomed the ruling, stating the case sends a strong message against child trafficking. However, the identity of the alleged buyer remains unknown.
Source: Citinewsroom
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