ACCUSED: Jacquen 'Boeta' Appollis, Steveno van Rhyn, and Kelly Smith.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers
KELLY Smith has changed her story in the case of her missing daughter Joshlin.
Mom Kelly, her berk Jacquen ‘Boeta’ Appollis and pal Steveno van Rhyn stand accused of kidnapping and human trafficking at the Western Cape High Court, which is sitting at White City Multipurpose Centre in Saldanha Bay.
As the State called its second witness on Tuesday in the trial, the statement Kelly Smith made to police was revealed and submitted as evidence.
Constable Luzuko Kobese took to the stand. He was one of the police officers stationed at Saldanha SAPS who were the first to respond to the call about a missing child on Monday, 19 February.
Kobese was also the one who took the statement of the mother of the missing girl.
Kelly, who initially told police she found out Joshlin was missing when she returned home from work at 5pm, changed her story.
In her statement, which IOL is in possession of, she said: “At about 1.50pm, I returned home from work. My boyfriend, Jacquen, was not at the home, and I only found two children. I asked them where Joshlin was, and they said they didn’t know. I went out to look for her, and the father was also looking for the child.”
Kelly gave a description of Joshlin's clothing and stated police had advised her to open an inquiry for a missing person.
VERMIS: Joshlin Smith has been missing since Monday, 19 February 2024.
Image: Supplied
“It is the first time she hasn’t come back home even if she’s playing,” the statement read.
State Prosecutor Advocate Aradhan Heeramun confirmed by the police officer that Kelly signed after understanding what was written and he confirmed it.
When asked how Boeta was during this time, he said: “Boeta appeared like one under pressure and refused to answer the police’s questions”.
Advocate Heeramun also asked Constable Kobese to explain Kelly’s demeanour as he took the statement outside near her home.
Kobese testified: “She appeared calm. Willing to give answers, but at some points she appeared to become hesitant at some questions. During the statement, the questions posed put her under pressure and even more so, when bystanders asked her if the child was still alive. She was hesitant to answer.
He told the court he asked Kelly if she was willing to sleep at home that night under the circumstances - residents were screaming at her - and she said no and he took her to a relative’s house.
Constable Kobese said after the statement was completed, Kelly was back to being calm and could even speak properly now, after the questions from bystanders stopped.
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