A South African woman has gone on trial accused of kidnapping and selling her young daughter, a case that has captured the nation's attention.
Kelly Smith is charged along with her partner and another man in the disappearance of her daughter Joshlyn more than a year ago.
Joshlyn, who was six years old when she disappeared, remains missing after a nationwide police search.
Smith, whose full name is Raquel Chantelle Smith, was charged with kidnapping and human trafficking.
Prosecutors allege she orchestrated her daughter's kidnapping in exchange for a reward with the help of her partner, Jacquin Appollis, and friend, Steven van Ryn.
All three defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges as the trial began in a gymnasium in the small coastal town of Saldanha Bay.
The trial was moved indoors to allow community members to attend.
In the days following her disappearance, Joshlyn Smith attracted sympathy across South Africa, with neighbours rallying to help police search for the girl in the sand dunes near the poor community of shacks and small houses where they lived.
Smith claimed she left Joshlyn with Appollis on the day she went missing in February 2024 and never saw her again.
The case took a shocking turn when police brought Smith in for questioning and then arrested her.
Another woman arrested has not been charged and is reportedly expected to testify as a prosecution witness.
In the indictment, prosecutors said Smith planned to sell Joshlyn and her two other children beginning in August 2023. Only Joshlyn went missing.
They also claimed that Smith and Joshlyn were seen getting into a white car with a bag of clothes on the day the girl was reported missing.
This incident caused public outrage.
According to local media reports, a crowd gathered outside the gym chanting “We want Joshlyn back.”
Judge Nathan Erasmus said the three defendants could face life in prison if found guilty.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
