ON TRIAL: Kelly Smith is alleged to have taken more concern about the whereabouts of her boyfriend, Boeta, than of Joshlin.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers
SPARKS flew on the first day of the Joshlin Smith kidnapping trial in Saldanha yesterday.
The State called its first witness in the case of the missing green-eyed girl at the White City Multipurpose Centre.
Mom Kelly Smith appeared before Judge Nathan Erasmus with her co-accused boyfriend Jacquen “Boeta” Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn, who all pleaded not guilty to charges of kidnapping and trafficking in persons.
Called to the stand, the police officer who was flagged down by Kelly gave his explosive testimony of the events of 19 February 2024.
Of his arrival in Middelpos, the constable said: “When we arrived at the place, two women stopped us. One was Xhosa and the other Coloured.
"They were a distance from us and it appeared they were having a good time. She said when she came home from work, her child was missing."
The judge asked the witness to elaborate on “good time”, and he said the house they came from was playing music and lots of people were inside.
He said Kelly stated that she had left her child with her boyfriend who she lives with.
He added: “We asked her when last she saw Boeta and at this stage we told her to accompany us. When we got to the home, no one was home.”
The police officer said that while they looked for Joshlin at her speelmaatjies’ homes, Kelly appeared min gespin.
Joshlin Smith went missing on 19 February 2024.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers
When asked to explain Kelly's demeanour, the officer said: “As we were walking, She did not appear to look worried about her missing child.
"The most important thing for her was the boyfriend, not the child. She showed no emotion. She spoke more about the boyfriend than the child”
He further testified how they drove around in the informal settlement and continued asking around about Joshlin when load shedding struck at 10pm.
After tracking down Boeta, the cop said: "When Kelly saw Boeta, she went to him. She appeared more concerned about Boeta than Joshlin.
"She asked Boeta about the gas he had to fill during the day. She was at ease when she saw Boeta. At that stage, she had not asked him about Joshlin.
"While she was talking I intervened and asked him when last he saw the child. He said he and his friends were smoking at the house during the day before the child disappeared."
The trial continues.
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