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| Joshlin Smith's mother, Kelly, jailed for kidnapping and selling her in South Africa | Joshlin Smith's mother, Kelly, jailed for kidnapping and selling her in South Africa |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| The court heard that on the day Joshlin Smith disappeared she did not go to school because she did not have a clean uniform | The court heard that on the day Joshlin Smith disappeared she did not go to school because she did not have a clean uniform |
| A South African woman convicted of kidnapping and trafficking her six-year-old daughter has been sentenced to life in prison, along with her two accomplices. | A South African woman convicted of kidnapping and trafficking her six-year-old daughter has been sentenced to life in prison, along with her two accomplices. |
| The jail terms for Racquel "Kelly" Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis and their friend Steveno van Rhyn come more than a year after Joshlin Smith mysteriously disappeared outside her home in Saldanha Bay, near Cape Town. | The jail terms for Racquel "Kelly" Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis and their friend Steveno van Rhyn come more than a year after Joshlin Smith mysteriously disappeared outside her home in Saldanha Bay, near Cape Town. |
| Despite a highly publicised search for the girl, who vanished in February 2024, she is yet to be found. | Despite a highly publicised search for the girl, who vanished in February 2024, she is yet to be found. |
| South African prosecutors say she was sold into slavery however this was not definitively proven during the trial. | South African prosecutors say she was sold into slavery however this was not definitively proven during the trial. |
| It is believed that Smith, who was addicted to drugs, needed the money. | It is believed that Smith, who was addicted to drugs, needed the money. |
| The sentencing follows an eight-week trial that captivated South Africa, with witnesses and prosecutors making a number of shocking allegations. | The sentencing follows an eight-week trial that captivated South Africa, with witnesses and prosecutors making a number of shocking allegations. |
| Judge Nathan Erasmus said he "drew no distinction" between the trio in handing down the sentences. | Judge Nathan Erasmus said he "drew no distinction" between the trio in handing down the sentences. |
| "On the human trafficking charge, you are sentenced to life imprisonment. On the kidnapping charge, you are sentenced to 10 years imprisonment," he said to loud applause in the courtroom. | "On the human trafficking charge, you are sentenced to life imprisonment. On the kidnapping charge, you are sentenced to 10 years imprisonment," he said to loud applause in the courtroom. |
| Kelly Smith refused to testify in the eight-week trial | |
| Judge Erasmus took over an hour to deliver the sentence and was measured as he gave a brief summary of the case and highlighted points that stood out during the trial. | Judge Erasmus took over an hour to deliver the sentence and was measured as he gave a brief summary of the case and highlighted points that stood out during the trial. |
| He rebuked the trio, especially Van Rhyn and Smith, saying they showed no remorse for their actions. | He rebuked the trio, especially Van Rhyn and Smith, saying they showed no remorse for their actions. |
| "There is nothing that I can find that is redeeming or deserving of a lesser sentence," he said. | "There is nothing that I can find that is redeeming or deserving of a lesser sentence," he said. |
| He also spoke of the impact their conduct had on the community of Middelpos, where the girl lived, saying it had left residents "fractured". | He also spoke of the impact their conduct had on the community of Middelpos, where the girl lived, saying it had left residents "fractured". |
| Smith, 35, and her accomplices showed no emotion as their sentences were read out in the community centre in Saldanha where the trial was held to allow residents to attend proceedings. | Smith, 35, and her accomplices showed no emotion as their sentences were read out in the community centre in Saldanha where the trial was held to allow residents to attend proceedings. |
| Tears and heartbreak over tragic story of Joshlin Smith | Tears and heartbreak over tragic story of Joshlin Smith |
| South Africa police target gang kidnapping women in shopping centres | South Africa police target gang kidnapping women in shopping centres |
| Police said the search for the little girl would continue, even beyond South Africa's borders. | Police said the search for the little girl would continue, even beyond South Africa's borders. |
| "We will not rest until we find [out] what happened to Joshlin. We are continuing day and night looking for her," Western Cape police commissioner Thembisile Patekile told local media. | "We will not rest until we find [out] what happened to Joshlin. We are continuing day and night looking for her," Western Cape police commissioner Thembisile Patekile told local media. |
| The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomed the sentence and lauded the work of its team in proving that Joshlin was "sold [and] delivered to the intended buyer" for the purpose of "exploitation, namely slavery or practices similar to slavery". | The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomed the sentence and lauded the work of its team in proving that Joshlin was "sold [and] delivered to the intended buyer" for the purpose of "exploitation, namely slavery or practices similar to slavery". |
| During the trial, the identity of the "intended buyer" was never revealed. | During the trial, the identity of the "intended buyer" was never revealed. |
| The BBC asked the NPA for further details, however a spokesperson was unable to provide any. | The BBC asked the NPA for further details, however a spokesperson was unable to provide any. |
| Emotions were high ahead of the sentencing, with angry community members saying the trio should get a "harsh sentence because they deserve it". | Emotions were high ahead of the sentencing, with angry community members saying the trio should get a "harsh sentence because they deserve it". |
| Joshlin's grandmother has said she does not feel that any sentence can bring back her granddaughter | Joshlin's grandmother has said she does not feel that any sentence can bring back her granddaughter |
| Ahead of sentencing, Joshlin's grandmother, Amanda Smith-Daniels, once again pleaded with her daughter to "bring my [grand]child back or tell me where she is". | Ahead of sentencing, Joshlin's grandmother, Amanda Smith-Daniels, once again pleaded with her daughter to "bring my [grand]child back or tell me where she is". |
| "I don't feel that any sentence they get will bring my grandchild back," she told local broadcaster Newzroom Afrika. | "I don't feel that any sentence they get will bring my grandchild back," she told local broadcaster Newzroom Afrika. |
| Ms Smith-Daniels said that Joshlin's disappearance had left her family "broken". | Ms Smith-Daniels said that Joshlin's disappearance had left her family "broken". |
| She urged her daughter to stop blaming others for her misfortune as she "was the person that did the deed". | She urged her daughter to stop blaming others for her misfortune as she "was the person that did the deed". |
| During the trial, the court heard testimonies from more than 30 witnesses, who painted a picture of the young girl's troubled life and subsequent disappearance. | During the trial, the court heard testimonies from more than 30 witnesses, who painted a picture of the young girl's troubled life and subsequent disappearance. |
| Kelly Smith and her accomplices refused to testify or call any witnesses for their defence. | Kelly Smith and her accomplices refused to testify or call any witnesses for their defence. |
| The most explosive came from Lourentia Lombaard, a friend and neighbour of Smith who turned state witness. | The most explosive came from Lourentia Lombaard, a friend and neighbour of Smith who turned state witness. |
| Ms Lombaard alleged that Smith told her she had done "something silly" and sold Joshlin to a traditional healer, known in South Africa as a "sangoma". | Ms Lombaard alleged that Smith told her she had done "something silly" and sold Joshlin to a traditional healer, known in South Africa as a "sangoma". |
| The "person who [allegedly took] Joshlin wanted her for her eyes and skin", Ms Lombaard told the court. | The "person who [allegedly took] Joshlin wanted her for her eyes and skin", Ms Lombaard told the court. |
| A local pastor testified that in 2023, he had heard Smith - a mother of three - talk of selling her children for 20,000 rand ($1,100; £850) each, though she had said she was willing to accept a lower figure of $275. | A local pastor testified that in 2023, he had heard Smith - a mother of three - talk of selling her children for 20,000 rand ($1,100; £850) each, though she had said she was willing to accept a lower figure of $275. |
| Joshlin's teacher then alleged in court that Smith had told her during the search that her daughter was already "on a ship, inside a container, and they were on the way to West Africa". | Joshlin's teacher then alleged in court that Smith had told her during the search that her daughter was already "on a ship, inside a container, and they were on the way to West Africa". |
| It was the testimonies of Ms Lombard and the clergyman that were key to securing a conviction. | It was the testimonies of Ms Lombard and the clergyman that were key to securing a conviction. |
| During sentencing hearings, Smith was described as manipulative and someone who told "bald-faced lies". A social worker appointed to compile a report on Smith and her accomplices, went so far as to say it would not be a "stretch to conclude that [Kelly] Smith is the mastermind behind the trafficking of her own daughter". | During sentencing hearings, Smith was described as manipulative and someone who told "bald-faced lies". A social worker appointed to compile a report on Smith and her accomplices, went so far as to say it would not be a "stretch to conclude that [Kelly] Smith is the mastermind behind the trafficking of her own daughter". |
| The court also heard powerful statements from those who knew Joshlin about the devastating effect of her disappearance on the community. | The court also heard powerful statements from those who knew Joshlin about the devastating effect of her disappearance on the community. |
| More South Africa stories from the BBC: | More South Africa stories from the BBC: |
| Joshlin Smith's disappearance spreads fear in South Africa's Saldhana Bay | Joshlin Smith's disappearance spreads fear in South Africa's Saldhana Bay |
| 'The selfie that revealed I was a stolen baby' | 'The selfie that revealed I was a stolen baby' |