The Joslin Smith court matter involving Kelly Smith, her boyfriend Jacquin Appolis, Steveno van Rhyn and Lourentia Lombard has been postponed to 21 October 2024.
The four suspects stand accused of kidnapping and human trafficking relating to the disappearance of six-year-old Joslin Smith.
Kidnapping and Human Trafficking accused Kelly Smith and her co-accused appeared in Vredenburg Magistrate’s Court this morning for the disappearance of six-year-old Joshlin Smith. The case has been postponed until 21 October for further investigation. CP pic.twitter.com/VjNf9cteeN
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) September 16, 2024
The little girl went missing from her home in the Middelpos informal settlement in Saldanha Bay, on 19 February 2023. To date, there is still no sign of the child.
The suspects made a brief court appearance in the Vredenburg Magistrates’ Court on Monday, where the court heard that new evidence has become known. According to the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) Eric Ntabazalila, the postponement will give authorities time to investigate further, as the probe is reportedly at a sensitive stage.
“Between the last appearance and today, there is new evidence that has come to light, and we are obligated to follow that evidence and that investigation is taking place as we speak. It is at a sensitive stage and we can’t be speaking about it, so we have asked the court to postpone it, so that the police can continue with that investigation,” said Ntabazalila.
[WATCH] The Joshlin Smith disappearance case was postponed to October 21 at the Vredenburg Magistrate's Court today. The accused remain in custody. #Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/XWV42IosBb
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) September 16, 2024
The court case has not yet been transferred to the Western Cape High Court. Court proceedings were expected to move to the Western Cape High Court, as indicated during the last court appearance, in July.
READ MORE: Joslin Smith’s case highlights the crisis of missing children
