Joshlin Smith trial: Tension rise as accused walk through community

SALDANHA BAY - Tensions ran high in the Middelpos community of Saldanha Bay on Thursday when missing six-year-old Joshlin Smith's mother and her two co-accused walked through the area during an inspection in loco.  

Kelly Smith, Jacquen Appollis, and Stevano van Rhyn joined court officials to inspect critical locations related to Joshlin's disappearance.  

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Smith, Appollis, and Van Rhyn are charged with kidnapping and human trafficking for allegedly selling Joshlin to an unknown woman.  

Middelpos residents in Saldanha Bay expressed mixed emotions when Smith walked through the area in shackles during the inspection.  

Court officials visited various locations in the area for court officials to inspect critical locations related to the case.  

As Smith and her co-accused entered Middelpos, her neighbour Leandre Mathee could be heard shouting: "Where is Joshlin?"  

"We want the mother in Kelly to wake up. We need the mother in Kelly to wake up. Her child is looking for her. Her child is calling for her. Her child is missing - where's the mother? Where's the mother in you?"  

When told by another neighbour she's being missed in the area, Smith responded: "I'll be back home soon."