Joshlin Smith sentencing: ‘Kelly, you made our lives hell on earth,’ says her mother

Sentencing proceedings of Joshlin Smith’s mother, Racquel “Kelly” Smith, and her co-accused, Jacquen “Boeta” Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn, were emotionally charged on the second day as victim impact statements were read out in court.

On 2 May, Judge Nathan Erasmus found the three guilty of kidnapping and human trafficking.

Six-year-old Joshlin disappeared from the family’s home in Saldanha Bay on 19 February 2024.

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The three accused returned to the Western Cape High Court in Saldanha on Wednesday, where emotions ran high as Joshlin’s loved ones painted a picture of their lives since her disappearance.

Court preparation officer, Deonett Boltney, read out the statements, which reduced Kelly to tears.

‘Kelly tore us apart’

Among the statements was that of Amanda Smith Daniels, who is Kelly’s mother. Her statement was a mixture of sadness and anger at the actions of her daughter, whom she said was playing victim.

“Kelly, you have come and made our lives hell on earth. You came to break us and tore us apart. Do you know what it feels like to lie awake every night? It feels like my heart has been ripped out of my body because I pray for Joshlin. I pray for her safety and that God will keep her safe where she is. My pillow is riddled with tears over your actions,” said Daniels in her statement.

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‘Fear’

She further described the changes to her daily routine since taking Kelly’s children, as she lives in fear that something may happen to them too.

“Do you know how it feels when I have to wake up my grandchildren for school. It weighs heavily on my heart because it feels like I have to be at school all day to look after them, in case something happens to them.

“How does your heart feel on Mother’s Day? I cried my heart out when my grandchildren came to surprise me with breakfast in bed. Do you know that you could spend every day with your three children?

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“As your biological mother, I had you adopted by my parents because I was young and innocent. I could not sit at home and expect my mother to support me, and I gave you to them because I was looking for a job, and I knew they would give you the best in life, and they did. I wanted to adopt [Kelly’s son], and your words to me were: ‘I will show you, I will make another child again’.”

‘You lied again’

Kelly’s mother labelled her a liar for failing to fulfil what she had promised her regarding Joshlin’s disappearance.

“You don’t want to take responsibility for your actions, now you want to play victim. You looked me in the face and said, ‘Mommy, I’ll talk next time we appear’. I believed you, but you lied again. How do you live with yourself? I will not rest nicely until Joshlin is found. Joshlin would have received all the love and attention from the Andrews family; they would have been the best parents to have, and now they’re also left with great hurt by you.”

Judge Erasmus is expected to hand out sentences on Thursday.

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