The mother of a six -year -old girl who disappeared more than a year ago in South Africa went to a trial accused of organizing her abduction.
Kelly Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis and their friend Steveno Van Rhyn were arrested after Smith’s daughter Joshlin disappeared outside his house in Saldanha Bay, near Cape Town, in February last year.
Joshlin’s disappearance sent shock waves across South Africa and despite a very public search for her, she has yet to find.
All three declared that they were not guilty of charges of human trafficking and abduction.
Mrs. Smith initially said Joshlin had disappeared after leaving the young girl in Mr. Appollis’s care.
Prosecutors later accused her of “selling, delivering or exchanging” a six -year -old and lied about her disappearance.
The intense and widespread search then followed the young girl, but attention soon turned to Mrs. Smith after her friend and former co -defendant Lorentia Lombaard became a state witness, according to the southern African website of Daily Maverick News.
Her search even attracted the interest of Minister of Sport Gayton McKenzie, who offered a million random award for his safe return (£ 42,500 54,000).
The trial will last from March 3-28 at the Saldanha multipurpose center, which was transferred to a high court especially in case.
The judge who chaired the case earlier this year explained that the location was selected to “ensure that the community has access to” procedures during the trial of the marathon.
