Joshlin Smith’s traffickers believe the court has erred in sentencing them to life behind bars.
At the end of May, the missing child’s mother, Kelly Smith, Jacquen Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn, were handed life sentences for human trafficking and ten years for kidnapping.
Joshlin was six years old when she disappeared from her Middelpos home in Saldanha Bay in February 2024.
Joshlin Smith
Attorneys for Kelly Smith, Jacquen Appollis, and Steveno van Rhyn, filed notices to appeal the high court’s ruling and sentences, barely a week after sentencing was handed down in May this year.
Tuesday and Wednesday have been set aside for the court to hear the appeals.
Judge Nathan Erasmus is also expected to decide the fate of former-accused-turned State witness, Lourentia Lombaard.
Lombaard told the court that Smith sold her daughter to a sangoma for R20,000.
Meanwhile, the police’s work is not yet done as their investigation and search for little Joshlin, continue.
In other news – King Monada ordered to pay back R49,000 after skipping show
King Monada has once again found himself on the losing side of a legal battle after failing to pitch for a booked performance. The Limpopo hitmaker has been ordered by the Nkowankowa Magistrate’s Court to refund local promoter Eric Thoka R49 000, along with legal costs, for missing an event almost two years ago.
Thoka confirmed the court’s ruling, saying the matter was heard on July 25 and decided in his favour. Read More
