Court hears there’s enough evidence to show Joshlin Smith may have been harmed after being sold! A human trafficking expert said that there’s enough evidence to show that Joshlin Smith may have been harmed after being sold for financial gain.
The missing girl’s mother, Kelly Smith, Jacquen Appollis, and Steveno van Rhyn are set to be sentenced this week after being guilty of kidnapping and human trafficking.
Sentencing proceedings commenced on Tuesday in the Western Cape High Court sitting in the Saldanha Bay Multipurpose Centre.
Joshlin Smith
Defence attorney Nobahle Mkabayi, who represents accused number two, Van Rhyn, questioned State witness Doctor Marcel van der Watt about a report he compiled on human trafficking.
Van der Watt, who has 20 years of experience in combating human trafficking as a police officer and researcher, compiled the report to assist the court in reaching an appropriate sentence for the accused.
Mkabayi asked Van der Watt why he said that Joshlin could have been harmed.
He replied, saying that there was enough information about what happens to human trafficking victims.
“Well-documented and coherent and consistent themes and patterns in terms of the egregious harms that befall victims of trafficking, especially when we’re talking about young girl children, the age of Joshlin.”
Lawyers for Kelly Smith and Appollis opted not to question Van der Watt.
A social worker, who was the probation officer for the accused, is testifying about the reports he compiled after their arrests.
In other news – RIP: Actor Presley Chweneyagae (Cobrizi) has died at 40
Multi-award-winning actor Presley “Cobrizi” Chweneyagae has tragically passed away. The Mahikeng-born icon reportedly died in the early hours of Tuesday, 27 May, at just 40 years old. At this moment, the cause of death has not yet been revealed.
His untimely death was confirmed by MLA, his acting agency. Presley’s love for acting started at a young age. At just 10 years old, he joined drama classes at the North West Arts Council (now known as The Mmabana Arts, Culture and Sports Foundation). Read More
