A South African court has heard deeply disturbing details in the case of missing child Joslin Smith, with the state alleging that her mother, Racquel “Kelly” Smith, played a central role in her disappearance. The revelations, contained in a summary of substantial facts submitted to the court, paint a chilling picture of premeditation and conspiracy.
The state's case alleges that Kelly Smith meticulously planned her daughter's disappearance months in advance. Court documents reveal that, "Accused 3 (Kelly) communicated during August 2023 her plan to have her children taken away or sold. The plan was to happen in January or February 2024,” the summary stated.
This indicates a significant period of planning and deliberation preceding Joslin's disappearance in February 2024.
The timeline presented by the state outlines a series of events leading up to and following Joslin's disappearance. On Sunday, February 18th, Kelly took Joslin to a white car parked near their home. An unidentified woman emerged from the vehicle, engaged in a brief conversation with Kelly, and handed her something before they returned home with Joslin.
Critically, the state alleges that on the same day, Kelly, her boyfriend Jacquen Rowhan Apollis, his friend Steveno Dumaizio Duwayne Van Rhyn, and Laurentia Geneve Lombaard discussed the division of money from the alleged sale of Joslin. This suggests a financial motive behind the child's disappearance.
The following day, Monday, February 19th, Kelly instructed Joslin not to attend school. Later that day, Kelly collected Joslin and a pre-packed bag, and they left the house on foot before entering a vehicle and departing. This carefully orchestrated sequence of events, as described by the state, strongly suggests a deliberate plan to remove Joslin from her home.
The state's case further alleges that Kelly's actions were not spontaneous but part of a broader conspiracy involving her boyfriend and associates. The summary states that Kelly later returned home that night, feigning concern, and reported Joslin missing to the police. This apparent attempt to mislead investigators adds another layer of complexity to the already disturbing circumstances.
The state intends to present evidence and documents relating to the crime scene identified by Apollis and Van Rhyn. This evidence will likely play a crucial role in establishing the sequence of events and the involvement of all the accused. The state's case rests on the assertion of a common purpose among the accused.
“The state alleges that at all material times and places mentioned in the charges, the accused persons had a common purpose and acted together to achieve that purpose namely, to commit the offences embodied in the preferred charges. All the accused persons (individually) intended the unlawful criminal outcome or foresaw, with reckless disregard, it's possible realisation,” the summary read.
This legal argument aims to establish the culpability of each individual involved.
The details presented by the state paint a disturbing picture of premeditation, conspiracy, and deception. The alleged involvement of Kelly Smith, the mother, adds a particularly shocking element to the case. The case highlights the vulnerability of children and the importance of robust investigations into cases of missing persons.
