Kelly Smith, the mother of little Joslin Smith, wiped away tears after members of the Middelpos informal settlement hurled insults at her amid allegations she sold her child for drug money.
The crowd also demanded to know the location of the child, who had been missing for over a year.
Kelly, her partner, Jacquin “Boeta” Apollis, and a male friend, Steveno van Rhyn, are on trial over charges of child trafficking and kidnapping.
The trial – under a sitting of the High Court – is taking place at the Saldanha Bay multi-purpose centre.
JOSLIN SMITH’S MOTHER WEEPS AFTER ANGRY CROWD CONFRONTS HER
On day four of the trial, the three accused were taken on an inspection in loco of the Middelpos tin shack where Joslin Smith lived with her mother, Kelly Smith, and the latter’s boyfriend, Jacquin “Boeta” Apollis lived.
During the walkabout, Judge Nathan Erasmus, the defense, and two prosecutors took notes as SAP Captain Wesley Lombard gave an account of what transpired the day Joslin went missing.
Armed with a heavy police presence, the trio – who were shackled at their feet – were met with angry residents of the community.
In a clip posted on social media, one woman cried: “You pig! Tell the people where your child is! You dirty dog. You’re not a mother; what is wrong with you?”. Another asked: “Where is Joslin? Your child is looking for you, she misses you.”
@anne.always.lifted.24 #corruption #judge #justice4joslin #justiceforjoslin ##wtf #justice4joslin #justiceforjoslin #shitshow #saldanhabay #kellysmith #courtroom #stevano #boeta #guilty #justice4joslin #joslinsmithcourtcase #joslinsmith ♬ original sound – Anne. alwayslifted
Others in the crowd chanted: “We want Joslin”.
Another clip saw Kelly wiping away tears as she sat in the back of the police vehicle.
The trial continues on Friday.
@the_scent_central Replying to @kim.kouter7 #tiktoknews #gbvsouthafrica #missingperson #justiceforjoslinsmith #westerncape #capetown #gautengtiktok #johannesburg #pretoria #kzntiktok #durbantiktok #easterncape #mthatha #eastlondon #northwest #limpopo #freestate #blomfontein #northerncape #mpumalanga #pietermaritzburg ♬ original sound – The Scent Central
WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE TRIAL THUS FAR?
The trial over missing Joslin Smith kicked off on Monday, 3 March, at the Saldanha Bay multipurpose centre. Here is what has happened thus far…
- The three accused have pled not guilty. Judge Erasmus warned them that they could face life imprisonment if found guilty.
- Three police officers have given their testimonies. They describe Kelly Smith’s behaviour as concerning. They also claim that Kelly changed her version of events, which also differed from her plea statement read in court.
- In her plea explanation, Kelly admitted to taking drugs on the day Joslin disappeared during and after work. She claims she reported the child missing later in the evening after allegedly looking for her herself.
- Police claimed that they had accompanied Kelly to look for Joslin and Boeta, who had been tasked with caring for the child. Boeta has a different version of events.
- Police also organised a safe space for Kelly Smith to spend the night, away from the angry community. However, Kelly was unhappy as the space was unable to accommodate her partner.
- During an inspection of the home a day after Joslin went missing, police discovered a pillowcase and bed sheet with blood stains.
- The two male accused have alleged that they were victims of police brutality.
ARE YOU FOLLOWING THE COURT PROCEEDINGS INTO MISSING JOSLIN SMITH?
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