Saturday, May 3, 2025 - A South African woman, Racquel ‘Kelly’ Smith, was found guilty of kidnapping and trafficking her six-year-old daughter, Joshlin Smith.
Racquel was convicted alongside her boyfriend Jacquen
‘Boeta’ Appollis, and their friend Steveno ‘Steffie’ van Rhyn, in the Western
Cape High Court on Friday, May 2, 2025.
“The State succeeded in proving the guilt of Mr Appollis,
van Rhyn and Ms Smith on the main counts," Judge Nathan Erasmus said.
“Count one — you are guilty of the charge of trafficking in persons. Count two — you are guilty of kidnapping.”
The court found that Joshlin Smith was deprived of her
liberty.
Erasmus delivered the highly anticipated judgment at the
White City Multipurpose Centre in Diazville, bringing to a close a harrowing
case that has shaken the West Coast community and captured national attention.
Erasmus said he will not deal with the Section 204 application now — meaning he will not make judgement on State witness, Laurentia ‘Renz’ Lombaard at this moment.
The court accepted key evidence from Lombaard, who testified
against the accused.
The public gallery erupted into cheers after Erasmus said he
found that Joshlin was indeed exchanged.
Addressing
Appollis, Van Rhyn and Kelly Smith, Erasmus said depriving Joshlin of the
liberty and restrictions to the liberty of movement is against the law.
Joshlin was
reported missing from her Middelpos home on February 19, 2024. Her
disappearance sparked a large-scale manhunt and a months-long investigation
that culminated in the arrest of the trio.
State
Advocate Zelda Swanepoel told the court on Friday, that Appollis and Van Rhyn
had previous convictions, but Kelly had no convictions.
As the news
of their conviction set in, Kelly started crying while her co-accused sat in
disbelief.
Members of the public sitting in the gallery erupted into loud cheers. Erasmus also said he does not mind if the SA Police Service allows relatives to speak to the accused before they leave.
The matter has been postponed until May 9, to the Western Cape High Court building in Cape Town. Their counsel will decide whether witnesses will be called.
Erasmus
confirmed that the matter would be brought back to Saldanha for sentencing.
The trio is
expected to be remanded in custody ahead of sentencing proceedings. Public
reaction outside the venue has been emotional, with some supporters of the
family in tears and others applauding the ruling.
Outside
court, Western Cape Police Commissioner, General Thembisile Patekile said the
search for Joshlin has not stopped and that police will continue searching for
the green-eyed girl.
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