Joslin Smith’s mother, Kelly Smith, showed off a sparkling ring on her ring finger in court this week. This comes amid allegations by state witness Laurentia Lombaard that Kelly accused her of having an affair with her boyfriend, Jacquin “Boeta” Appollis.
Kelly, Boeta, and a third accused, Steven van Rhyn, are charged with trafficking the young girl for the purposes of exploitation. Their trial is taking place at the Saldanha Bay Multipurpose Centre, which is sitting under the High Court.
Joslin went missing on 19 February 2024 from her home in Middelpos, Diazville.
JOSLIN SMITH’S MOM SHOWS OFF RING IN COURT
This week – the fourth week of the Joslin Smith trial – Kelly Smith’s mother appeared in court as usual alongside her co-accused. But this time, the mother of three donned a sparking ring on her ring finger.
It’s unclear if Kelly is engaged, married, or simply just wearing the ring on her finger.
Kelly began dating her accused, Jacquin “Boeta” Appollis after splitting from her ex, Josh Emke, who is the biological father of her two youngest, one of them being Joslin. The former couple are believed to be in an “abusive” relationship, Kelly’s friend Natasha Andrews said in court earlier this month.
Kelly – who also has a son from a previous relationship – was reportedly expecting Appollis’s baby during her arrest last year.
She miscarried the unborn baby whilst in police custody at Pollsmoor Prison several months later.
KELLY’S SUSPICION OF STATE WITNESS’S AFFAIR
During cross-examination by Kelly Smith’s defense, state witness Laurentia Lombaard was questioned over her relationship with the accused. Describing it as a “friendship,” Lombaard claimed that Kelly was sometimes “nasty” towards her.
She said in court: “Boeta once told me that Kelly was jealous of me because she thinks we are having an affair. That’s why she was nasty to me.”
Lombaard – a former accused who turned state witness in October – has been painted as an unreliable witness in court.
According to the defense, this is over several “lies” and discrepancies between her initial police statement and her confession.
Lombaard has also admitted to using the drug Tik (crystal meth) on a regular basis and the possibility of being “high” during her arrest. Additionally, Lombaard is accused of “falsely accusing “co-accused Steveno van Rhyn of being involved in Joslin’s trafficking because she was “angry at him for implicating” her boyfriend.
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