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Joshlin Smith sentencing: Tears and heartbreak over tragic story of South African girl sold by her mother
Joshlin Smith sentencing: Tears and heartbreak over tragic story of South African girl sold by her mother

BBC News

time2 hours ago

  • General
  • BBC News

Joshlin Smith sentencing: Tears and heartbreak over tragic story of South African girl sold by her mother

A video clip of a laughing Joshlin Smith, who was six years old when she went missing more than a year ago in South Africa, left most people in the courtroom was shown during a hearing in Saldanha Bay, near Cape Town, ahead of the sentencing of Joshlin's mother - a drug addict who is believed to have sold her for Smith, also known as Kelly Smith, was convicted of kidnapping and trafficking her daughter earlier this month. The 35-year-old mother of three was found guilty along with her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis and their friend Steveno van the court interpreter could not hold back her tears as she translated the victim impact statements into English.A court official read out those statements first in Afrikaans, the language spoken by those in the impoverished Middelpos informal settlement of Saldanha Bay, where Joshlin had their own words, Joshlin's grandmother, the family friend who had wanted to adopt Joshlin and her teacher spoke of their pain and bewilderment about how she could have been sold by her witness during the trial had alleged this was to a traditional healer, known in South Africa as a "sangoma", who wanted Joshlin for "her eyes and skin". A local pastor also testified that he had once heard Smith talk of selling her children for 20,000 rand ($1,100; £850) each, but would have been willing to accept a lower figure of $275."How do you sleep [and] live with yourself?" a devastated Amanda Smith-Daniels, who is looking after her other two grandchildren, asked her daughter in her victim statement on and her co-accused refused to take the stand during the six-week trial that began in March and was held at a community centre in Saldanha to allow the wider community to attend as Joshlin's mother heard the statements on Wednesday and saw the video clip, she sobbed teacher, Edna Maart, described the little girl as a quiet pupil who was "very tidy".She said she struggled with daily questions from Joshlin's schoolmates about her not to forget her, she said the class listened to her favourite gospel song - God Will Work It Out - at the start of every school day. It was also played to a teary courtroom on this day no-one knows what has happened to Joshlin. Her disappearance on 19 February 2024 caused shockwaves countrywide. Bianca van Aswegen, a criminologist and national co-ordinator at Missing Children South Africa, likened it to the case of Madeleine McCann, a British girl who went missing in Portugal in was aged three when she vanished from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in the Algarve - and hers is one of the most high-profile, unsolved missing person cases in the Van Aswegen told the BBC that while the trio's conviction in Joshlin's case had given people a sense of relief, "the matter of fact is that nobody knows where Joshlin is and I think that's the big question that South Africa is still asking".A picture of Joshlin's troubled life emerged during the trial - and a better sense of her personality during this week's hearings ahead of was born in October 2017, to Smith and her former partner Jose Emke, who broke down on Wednesday and had to be carried out of the second child - she and her older brother, now 11, had both suffered from neglect, according to a social worker who testified during the up, Kelly Smith had lived with her maternal grandmother and had struggled with substance abuse since she was 15 - often becoming abusive towards her and her children when she was high, social workers said.A report prepared by a social worker for the sentencing hearing paints a stark picture of Smith's drug addiction at the time of Joshlin's grandmother had kicked Smith out of the family home because of her drug use and she had threatened to stab her own son at that judge noted that it took Smith five months to register Joshlin's birth - by law this must be done within 30 days - and had lived intermittently at a shelter for abused she went into rehab later on, family friend Natasha Andrews stepped in to care for Joshlin - and she and her husband had wanted to adopt her."We could have provided for her better than her mother," Ms Andrews said during the trial, but the plans fell apart in 2018 as the parents "wouldn't agree" to this, Joshlin often visited the Andrews family for weekends and school holidays and would go on trips with clip shown in court on Wednesday of Joshlin laughing was from one of those holidays and formed part of Ms Andrews' victim shared this and other photos of Joshlin playing with her own daughter because "so many people… don't know what Joshlin sounds like", she was this and her description of her family's pain that sparked the greatest outpouring of emotion in the grew up in a corrugated iron structure located in Middelpos informal settlement with her mother, her mother's partner, her brother and younger social workers' report described the shack as offering "little in the way of privacy due to its highly restrictive living space". Smith did odd jobs to support her family, including part-time domestic work for Kelly Zeegers, who lived with her family in a nearby neighbourhood and paid her with groceries instead of cash."This is to make sure that she and the children have a plate of food," Ms Zeegers said during her witnesses did describe Smith as a good mother; her sister told the court Joshlin was the spitting image of her mum when she was little that is known of what happened to Joshlin on the day she disappeared is thanks to Laurentia Lombaard, who turned state witness. She had been at the shack smoking drugs with Appollis and Van Rhyn at the explained that Joshlin, who had started school a few weeks before her disappearance, and her brother had stayed at home that day because they did not have clean children had been mainly left in the care of Appollis as Smith was in and out during course of the day, occasionally returning to is not clear exactly how or when Joshlin went missing but the trial established it was some time during the afternoon - but the preoccupation of most of the adults meant the disappearance was only reported to the police at 21: social worker appointed to compile the report on the trio ahead of their sentencing described Smith as "manipulative" and someone who told "bald-faced lies"."It is therefore not a stretch to conclude that Smith is the mastermind behind the trafficking of her own daughter," he said. Ms Van Aswegen said she hoped the trio would be given "a proper sentence" that reflected a growing crisis in child trafficking."It is much more of a crisis than police stats actually show us due to the fact of many cases going unreported," she told the said what was unusual in Joshlin's case was that it had captured the whole nation."I have never really seen a case blow up like this in South Africa before [and] neither have we seen such a big search for a missing child. I think social media played a big role [and] we had political parties get involved in the case."According to South African news site IOL, 632 children were reported missing last year and 8,743 over the past 10 this month, police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said many children were eventually reunited with their Van Aswegen said this showed that one could never give up hope and the search for Joshlin would hope was reflected most by the Andrews family during the sentencing hearing.A poem written by Ms Andrews' 14-year-old daughter Tayla was also read out about the pain of not knowing what had happened to Joshlin and her hope that she was safe."We just want to hug you again," Ms Andrews' said in her statement. "You are our flower, our baby and our green-eyed child." You may also be interested in: Joshlin Smith: A six-year-old's disappearance spreads fear in South Africa's Saldhana Bay'The selfie that revealed I was a stolen baby' Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica

Melissa Reddy breaks silence after Sky Sports exit - as she hits out at 'abuse' and reveals her next career move
Melissa Reddy breaks silence after Sky Sports exit - as she hits out at 'abuse' and reveals her next career move

Daily Mail​

time6 hours ago

  • Entertainment
  • Daily Mail​

Melissa Reddy breaks silence after Sky Sports exit - as she hits out at 'abuse' and reveals her next career move

Melissa Reddy has spoken for the first time since leaving Sky Sports after three years with the broadcaster. Mail Sport first broke the news of Sky's intended redundancy programme earlier this month. It was then revealed on Wednesday morning that Reddy was one of seven high-profile Sky Sports employees to be moved on as the company looks to modernise its coverage. Taking to Instagram on Wednesday evening, Reddy released a lengthy statement to confirm her departure, while also revealing what she plans to do next. 'ELEVENTH!!! season of Premier League coverage done and I've called time on three years at Sky,' Reddy began. 'I'll still be doing bits and bobs for them but I'm genuinely soooo excited to share all the things I'll be working on soon, which will allow me to focus on my strengths and passions. In a lengthy statement, Reddy hit out at the misogynistic and racist abuse she has received 'For those that have BEEN asking for the past five years YES - that will include new books.' Reddy was born and raised in South Africa before moving over to the UK to cover the Premier League. She has almost two decades of experience behind her in the industry, but has now opened up on the misogynistic and racist 'abuse' she has received over the years, while vowing to never let it bring her down. Reddy's statement continued: 'After the first press conference I covered in England all those years back, a journalist turned to the press officer and said 'why are you letting them come over here and take our jobs. You just want a little lick don't you?!' 'I would love to be able to say that things have changed in that regard, but alas… the abuse as a foreign woman of colour in this sphere never ceases. 'I will always be stronger than the hate; I know who I am, I know the substance of my work. 'You can't dim the light of someone who learned how to shine in the dark. 'The messages I've received from managers, players, club staff, my Sky and wider industry colleagues - people who know me, my journey and sacrifices over the past decade - carry more weight than any of the nasty noise. Let's cook.' Reddy accompanied her post with photos and videos of her Sky highlights, which included interviewing Ruben Amorim, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Arne Slot. Her exit comes just two days after presenter Rob Wotton choked up during his final appearance after 27 years working for Sky Sports News. Presenters Teddy Draper and Jasper Taylor; reporters Jeremy Langdon and Fadumo Olow; and a news editor have also reportedly been cut, according to The Sun.

Tadhg Beirne and Aoife Dalton win RPI Players' Player of the Year awards
Tadhg Beirne and Aoife Dalton win RPI Players' Player of the Year awards

Irish Times

time6 hours ago

  • Entertainment
  • Irish Times

Tadhg Beirne and Aoife Dalton win RPI Players' Player of the Year awards

Tadhg Beirne and Aoife Dalton have been recognised by their peers by winning the respective Players' Players of the Year awards. The prestigious awards were announced at the Rugby Players Ireland (RPI) ceremony at the Aviva Stadium. Munster captain Beirne edged the claims of provincial teammate Tom Farrell, as well as Leinster duo Jamison Gibson-Park and Caelan Doris. Kildare native Beirne missed the awards ceremony as he is with Munster in South Africa preparing for a URC quarter-final before embarking on the Lions tour in Australia. He said: 'I'm honoured to be named. It comes as quite a surprise given that Caelan, Tom and Jamison have all had brilliant seasons.' Beirne added that being chosen by his fellow professionals 'makes this award even more meaningful and I really appreciate their support and acknowledgment'. READ MORE Dalton has had an impressive campaign in the Ireland midfield when she proved herself to be teak tough in defence and clever going forward. Though just 22, she is already established as a key figure ahead of the Rugby World Cup in England later this year. She said: 'It's a very exciting time to be involved with this group of players. To be recognised by them at such a crucial time for this team is hard to put into words. 'When I first came into camp, I could sense that something was beginning to build and I think we have started to see the fruits of that over recent months, both collectively and individually.' Eimear Considine was presented with the Zurich Contribution to Irish Society Award. Having made a try-scoring return to international action following two ACL injuries and the birth of her son Caolán, Considine announced her retirement during the season. She was selected for the award in acknowledgment of both her sporting legacy and long-standing contribution to mental wellbeing discourse in Ireland. Dan Sheehan, who made a remarkable impact on his return from an ACL injury, picked up the Men's Try of the Year for his effort against England in the Six Nations, while Anna McGann was acknowledged for her try against Italy. [ Munster will need to dip into their reserves of emotional energy in Durban Opens in new window ] [ Why James Lowe is determined for Cian Healy and Ross Byrne to leave Leinster with a medal this season Opens in new window ] Having been ruled out of the Rugby World Cup later this year, Erin King was a popular winner of the Energia Women's XVs Young Player of the Year. It follows her world Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year award last November. Leinster and Ireland outhalf Sam Prendergast won the men's equivalent, which is named after the late Ulster player Nevin Spence. Connacht captain Cian Prendergast, a previous winner, was on hand to present the award to his younger brother. Dylan O'Grady was named as the TritonLake Men's Sevens Players' Player of the Year. Lucinda Kinghan was the recipient of the women's version of the award following a fine season. Ireland's Triple Crown success was named as the Druids Glen Hotel & Golf Resort Moment of the Year.

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