All 3 accused in Joshlin Smith case found guilty
All three accused in the case of missing six-year-old Joshlin Smith have been found guilty on charges of kidnapping and human trafficking by the Western Cape High Court sitting in Saldanha Bay.
Joshlin's mother Kelly, her boyfriend Jacquin Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn -were arrested last year, just weeks after the girl's disappearance.
All three pleaded not guilty, and a trial within a trial was held to determine the admissibility of Appollis and Van Rhyn confession statements.
The statements were accepted as evidence in the main trial.
READ MORE: Joshlin Smith: Court rules confessions admissible
Judge Nathan Erasmus delivered his judgment on Friday afternoon.
“I am of the view that the state succeeded in proving the guilt of Mr Appollis, Mr van Rhyn, and Miss Smith on count one and on count two.”
Meanwhile, Erasmus highlighted the conduct of Joshlin Smith's mother, just days after the child was reported missing, as concerning.
He reflected on witness testimonies before delivering a guilty verdict.
“She comes home at five or quarter-to-five; on the one version she was aware that Joshlin was not at home at lunch time; then why not go and look for the child?
“Then you do, but you find it more appropriate to go and charge your phone instead of looking for the child. Then, you tell everybody that your child made you famous. Then you go and jive on the third of March.”
Kelly admitted to smoking drugs twice on the day her daughter went missing.
At the time of her disappearance, she was supposed to be with her mother's boyfriend, Jacquin Appollis.
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