'JOSHLIN LIKELY ABUSED'

A HUMAN trafficking expert from the United States of America believes missing Joshlin Smith was likely sold into exploitation.

- BY ROBIN-LEE FRANCKE

The shocking testimony comes on the opening day of the sentencing hearing of her mother Kelly Smith, die se berk Jacquen 'Boeta' Appollis and chommie Steveno van Rhyn.

The trio was convicted of human trafficking and kidnapping of seven-year-old Joshlin earlier this month.

The green-eyed meisie went missing on February 19, 2024.

She has not been found to date.

The trio is expected to learn their fate tomorrow as sentencing proceedings in the matter get underway.

Kicking off proceedings with his explosive testimony, Dr Marcel van der Watt, who is based in the US, delivered his testimony via Microsoft Teams to the stunned court.