NPA Welcomes Ruling in Joslin Case, Confident That Smith, Appollis and Van Rhyn Won’t Win an Appeal
- The National Prosecuting Authority is happy with the decision handed down by Judge Nathan Erasmus
- The judge denied Kelly Smith, Jacquin Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn leave to appeal their conviction and sentences
- The trio was convicted of human trafficking and kidnapping, and sentenced to life behind bars in May 2025
Source: Getty Images
Briefly News journalist Byron Pillay has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He spent 10 years working for the Northern Natal Courier before transitioning to online journalism.
WESTERN CAPE - The National Prosecuting Authority has welcomed a ruling to deny Racquel ‘Kelly’ Smith, Jacquin ‘Boeta’ Appollis, and Steveno van Rhyn leave to appeal their convictions and sentences.
The trio were found guilty of human trafficking and kidnapping of Joslin Smith, the little Saldanha Bay girl who was last seen on 19 February 2024. Smith, Appollis and van Rhyn were arrested and found guilty of human trafficking and kidnapping.
They were sentenced to life imprisonment for trafficking and given a further ten years for the kidnapping of the little girl on 29 May 2025.
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NPA pleased with the outcome
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the attorneys for the trio filed notices to appeal Judge Nathan Erasmus’ ruling and sentencing. The appeals filed made less than a week after he sentenced them to life. The NPA was then waiting for the judge to decide on a date for the applications for leave to appeal to be heard, which has since been confirmed.
NPA spokesperson, Eric Ntabazalila, has now confirmed that the application will be heard on 12 and 13 August. He added that the NPA would oppose the applications, as they were confident that there were no prospects of success.
What about Lourencia Lombaard?
Judge Erasmus will also decide whether Lourencia Lombaard is granted indemnity. Lombaard was originally arrested along with the other three, but then turned state's witness.
As a Section 204 witness, she could be granted indemnity from prosecution if she was found to be a credible witness. Judge Erasmus will decide her fate in a separate hearing, which will be held on 13 August 2025.
Both matters will be heard at the Western Cape High Court in Cape Town.
Judge Nathan Erasmus will decide Lourencia Lombaard's fate
Judge Nathan Erasmus will decide Lourencia Lombaard's fate in a separate hearing on 13 August 2025. Image: Jaco Marais
What you need to know about the Joslin Smith trial
- Lourencia Lombaard testified that a sangoma wanted Joslin for her eyes and skin.
- Advocate Rinesh Sivnarain accused Lombaard of being the mastermind behind Joslin’s disappearance.
- Appollis detailed how police allegedly tortured him while he was at the Sea Border offices.
- One of the defence lawyers alleged that police told Van Rhyn and Appollis what to say in their statements.
- Judge Nathan Erasmus ruled that statements made by Appollis and Van Rhyn may be admitted as evidence.
- Kelly and her two co-accused were found guilty of human trafficking and kidnapping.
- Kelly claimed that the witnesses lied, accused the court of being biased, and even said her lawyer was incompetent.
Smith, Appollis, Van Rhyn sentenced to life imprisonment
Briefly News also reported that Smith, Appollis and Van Rhyn were sentenced to life behind bars.
The trio was found guilty of human trafficking and kidnapping in the Joslin Smith trial. Judge Nathan Erasmus stated that Smith, Appollis and Van Rhyn showed no remorse.
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Source: Briefly News
