South Africa’s mother goes to trial for kidnapping

The mother of the six -year -old girl, who disappeared more than a year ago in South Africa, tried, accused her abduction.

Kelly Smith, her boyfriend Jacques Apalis and their friend Stephen Van Rin were arrested after Smith’s daughter Joshlin went missing in February, from the House of Soldier, near Cape Town.

The disappearance of Joshlin directed the shock waves in South Africa and, despite the widely advertised search, has not yet been found.

All three did not find themselves guilty of allegations of trafficking and abductions.

Ms Smith initially said that Joshlin was missing after she left the young girl in the care of Mr. Apalis.

Later, the prosecutor’s office accused her of selling, delivery or exchange of “six years of age and lied to her disappearance.

Then the intense and wide search for the young girl began, but the attention soon went to Ms. Smith after her friend and former co -authors Lorentia Lambaard addressed the state witness, reports the Daily Maverick News.

Her search even attracted the interest of the Sports Minister Gajtan McKenzi, who offered a mini -million reality (42,500 pounds; $ 54,000) for her safe profitability.

The trial will be held on March 3-28 at the Multi-purpose Center of Saldanya, which was transferred to a high court specifically in this case.

The judge, who, in this case earlier this year, explained that the place was chosen to “ensure that the community has access” to the case throughout the trial.