Joshlin Smith trial: Kelly's attorney attacks credibility of State's witnesses in closing argument
Joshlin, who disappeared from Saldanha Bay when she was six years old, has been missing since February last year.
Kelly Smith, Joshlin Smith’s mother, at the Western Cape High Court sitting in the Saldanha Bay multi-purpose centre on 17 March 2025.Kelly Smith, Joshlin Smith’s mother at the Western Cape High Court sitting in the Saldanha Bay Multi-Purpose Centre on 17 March 2025. Picture: Kayleen Morgan/EWN
CAPE TOWN - In the Joshlin Smith trial, a defence attorney for kidnapping and human trafficking accused mother Kelly Smith has attacked the credibility of the State's witnesses in his closing arguments.
Joshlin, who disappeared from Saldanha Bay when she was six years old, has been missing since February last year.
Smith, her boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis and his friend, Steveno van Rhyn, are on trial for the little girl's disappearance.
On Wednesday, the defence attorney, Rinesh Sivnarain, who represents Smith, tried to cast aspersions on the testimonies of two State witnesses.
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Sivnarain started with State witness Steven Coetzee, who previously testified that Smith told him about her plan to sell Joshlin for R20,000 six months before she went missing.
Smith's attorney submitted that Coetzee manufactured the story after seeing the widespread attention Joshlin's disappearance had garnered.
Sivnarain also attacked the credibility of the former accused turned State witness, Lombaard.
"She intentionally misled this court. She wanted this court to believe that she played a very small role in the commission of this offence. She tried to really water down her role in this offence."
Sivnarain closed his final argument by telling the court the State does not have enough evidence to prove Smith's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.