Court in South Africa convicts mother for illegally selling her 6-year-old daughter.
Hear Ye! Hear Ye! 🚨 It's a Wrap for Kelly, Boeta, and Steffie! 🚩
In a jaw-dropping turn of events at the Western Cape High Court, Judge Nathan Erasmus has drawn a line under the case of Joshlin Smith's disappearance. 🌊💰
This trio, including Kelly Smith (mommy dearest), Jacquin Appollis (Boeta, the boyfriend), and Steveno van Rhyn (Steffie, the friend), were treated like kingpins dealing in illicit goods, as per the judge's statement. 👩👧👦💸💰
Unlike your typical crime drama, though, there were no last-minute defense witnesses, no tearful pleas of innocence. Instead, all three pleaded not guilty and hoped for the best. 🤷♂️🤓
The investigations initially sparked local uproar and national outrage, with Kelly Smith initially depicted as a victim. But as the layers peeled off, it turned out that the tables had been turned. 🎭🌟
Witness after witness paint a grim picture of a 6-year-old child being sold for a hefty sum of 20,000 Rand (approx. 960 euros). 💰💰💰
One of the 35 witnesses took the stand during the trial, testifying that the helpless little girl was sold to a 'sangoma', a traditional South African healer, drawn by the child's unique physical characteristics. 🦋🔮
Now, these three face a jaw-dropping life imprisonment sentence, and the sentencing hearings are set to kick off next week. 😨
In the aftermath of the Kelly Smith, Jacquin Appollis, and Steveno van Rhyn trial for the commodity of a young girl, local and national interest centered around the event, series of witness testimonies painting a grim picture of the 6-year-old girl being sold for approximately 960 euros to a traditional South African healer known as a 'sangoma.' With the no-show of last-minute defense witnesses and the plea of not guilty, these three now stand accused of an unspeakable crime and face a life-altering sentence, as the sentencing hearings are scheduled to commence next week in the Western Cape High Court. This tragic event has turned the world's attention to the unjust realities lurking beneath the surface of general news, politics, and crime-and-justice scenarios.
