Joshlin Smith trial: Accused in for a rough time as sentencing proceedings get underway - criminal defence attorney
Kelly Smith, Jacquen Appollis, and Steveno van Rhyn were found guilty in April of having a hand in the girl’s disappearance more than a year ago.
Day 5 of the trial related to the disappearance of six-year-old Joshlin Smith continued in Saldanha Bay on 7 March 2025 where Joshlin’s mother Kelly Smith, Stevano van Rhyn and Jacquen Appollis are charged for allegedly selling the girl to an unknown woman in February last year. Picture: Carlo Petersen/EWN
CAPE TOWN - Criminal defence attorney William Booth said Kelly Smith and two others could be in for a tough time when sentencing proceedings get underway in the kidnapping and human trafficking case of little Joshlin Smith.
Kelly, Jacquen Appollis, and Steveno van Rhyn were found guilty of having a hand in the girl’s disappearance more than a year ago.
There are claims that Joshlin may have been sold to a traditional healer for R20,000.
Sentencing proceedings are set to get underway at the Western Cape High Court this week.
Booth said that the court said the lack of remorse from the trio may work against them in sentencing.
“So, the fact that the child has not been recovered, either a body or found if she is still alive is an aspect that I believe could be regarded as aggravating. The State will present evidence requesting the maximum sentence to be imposed.”
But he said the decision about time served is never an easy decision.
“A sentence of life imprisonment can potentially be imposed for the offence of human trafficking. A court can, after hearing all the arguments for and against, determine that there are substantial and compelling circumstances which could justify a lesser sentence.”