Police officer testifies Saldanha Bay residents questioned Kelly Smith on time it took to report Joshlin missing

CAPE TOWN - Police Constable Luzuko Kobese says Saldanha Bay residents questioned Kelly Smith about why she took so long to report her daughter missing on the day Joshlin Smith disappeared.

Smith is on trial along with two others for kidnapping and human trafficking after six-year-old Joshlin went missing from her Middelpos home in Saldanha Bay in February last year.

Kobese, who took Smith's statement, was cross-examined about his account of what happened on the day Joshlin vanished.

Constable Luzuko Kobese was grilled by lawyers for the accused on Wednesday about why his statement differs from his testimony.

READ: Joshlin Smith trial: 2 accused claim they were tortured into admitting they had her sold

Kobese, who was the first police officer to interview Smith on the day Joshlin went missing, previously told the court Smith became hesitant to questions on the night he took her statement.

He told the court residents from the area were present outside Smith's home in Middelpos at the time of the interview.

Kobese says Smith became visibly agitated when bystanders asked her why she only reported Joshlin at 9 pm if she knew the child had been missing since 5 pm.

The trial continues in the Western Cape High Court sitting in the Saldanha Bay multi-purpose center on Thursday.