The three individuals convicted of trafficking missing Saldanha Bay girl Joshlin Smith have entered their second week behind bars, serving life sentences for their roles in the case that shocked the nation.
The Western Cape High Court sentenced Kelly Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis, and friend Steveno van Rhyn to life imprisonment for human trafficking, along with an additional 10 years for kidnapping. The sentences will run concurrently.
Despite the severity of the judgment, defence attorneys for the trio are expected to file notices of appeal this week, challenging both the convictions and the sentences.
State prosecutors, however, have indicated they are prepared to vigorously oppose any attempt to overturn the court’s decision.
Judge Nathan Erasmus, who presided over the case, described the crime as “callous and inhumane,” adding that the trafficking of a child “strikes at the heart of our society.”
Joshlin Smith, whose disappearance earlier this year sparked nationwide outcry and extensive search efforts, remains unaccounted for. Authorities have reiterated that investigations into her whereabouts are ongoing.