High Court Delivers Verdict On the Joshlin Smith Case

High Court Delivers Verdict On the Joshlin Smith Case. After 34 days of testimony and cross-examination, the Western Cape High Court has delivered its verdict on the highly publicized Joshlin Smith case. Judge Nathan Erasmus has ruled that the 6-year-old was trafficked and unlawfully deprived of her freedom.

The judgment against Joshlin’s mother Racquel ‘Kelly’ Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen ‘Boeta’ Appollis, and their friend Steveno ‘Steffie’ van Rhyn, was handed down in the White City multi-purpose centre in Diazville on Friday. They have been convicted on charges of kidnapping and trafficking. Testimonies revealed Smith planned to sell her daughter for as little as R5,000, with state witness Lourentia Lombaard claiming Smith admitted to selling the child to a sangoma. The judgement was received with an applause from the community, and social media is rejoicing as well. Many believe that judgement was served for young Joshlin.

Pre-sentencing proceedings will get underway soon with the state indicating that it will lead evidence. The search for Joshlin, who remains missing, continues.

Here is how social media users have to say about the case.