Judgment is expected to be delivered today by Judge Nathan Erasmas in the High Court in Saldanha Bay, as the highly publicised kidnapping and human trafficking trial surrounding the disappearance of seven-year-old Joshlin Smith reaches its conclusion.
The verdict follows the conclusion of final arguments by defence lawyers on Wednesday, marking the end of a two-month-long trial that has gripped the nation.
Joshlin’s mother, Kelly Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis, and co-accused Steveno van Rhyn are standing trial for their alleged involvement in the child’s disappearance from her home in February last year. The state alleges that the trio sold Joshlin for R20,000.
The defence maintains the prosecution has failed to prove its case, questioning the credibility of key witness Lourentia Lombard— a former accused turned state witness — and citing inconsistencies in her testimony.
However, lead prosecutor Zelda Swanepoel pushed back against the claim, arguing that Lombard’s account is supported by testimony from another state witness, Steven Nico Coetzee.
Despite months of investigation and legal proceedings, Joshlin Smith remains missing, and the outcome of today's judgment is expected to bring a significant turn in the case.