The court case related to the disappearance of Joshlin Smith has been postponed again as new evidence has come to light, seven months after the six-year-old girl went missing from her home in Saldanha Bay, Cape {town} Etc reports.
Also read: DNA update expected Monday in Joshlin Smith kidnapping case
On Monday, her mother Racquel (Kelly) Chantel Smith, co-accused boyfriend Jacquin Rowhan Appollis, Steveno van Rhyn, and Lourentia Lombard made a brief appearance in the Vredenburg Magistrates’ Court on charges of kidnapping and trafficking in persons for exploitation.
Joshlin, who is a Grade 1 learner at Diazville Primary School, went missing from the Middelpos informal settlement on 18 February after her mother reportedly left her with her boyfriend (Appollis) around 8am to go to work.
Upon returning later that day, she discovered that Joshlin was gone. However, Kelly, Appollis and Van Rhyn were arrested in March, allegedly for selling Joshlin to another person in Middelpos for R20 000 for ritual purposes.
Lombard later joined the group after confessing to her alleged involvement. Details surrounding the circumstances of Joshlin’s disappearance and her mother’s involvement have however remained scarce as the investigation continues.
As reported by Newzroom Africa, it was expected that the case would have been brought to the Western Cape High Court by now. However, National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said new evidence has come to light, resulting in a postponement.
According to Ntabazalila, the group will appear in the Vredenburg Magistrates’ Court on 21 October. The appearance has been flagged as ‘final’, indicating that the investigation should reach a close by then before the matter can be transferred to the Western Cape High Court.
‘We can only transfer the matter once all the investigations have been finalised,’ he told Newzroom Africa.
He added that he could not elaborate on the new evidence as police are actively investigating it.
Daily Maverick reports that State prosecutor advocate Aradhana Heeramun told Magistrate Theresa Postma during court proceedings that the month-long postponement would be enough time to complete the investigations.
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Picture: Theo Jeptha / Gallo Images
