Stop twisting facts

JOSHLIN CASE: JUDGE TACKLES DEFENCE COUNSEL OVER 'UNTRUTHS'

- Vhahangwele Nemakonde

The judge in little Joshlin Smith's kidnapping case hauled the defence counsel over the coals, telling her to "stop twisting the facts".

The legal representatives of Joshlin's mother, Racquel "Kelly" Smith, along with her accomplices, Jacquen "Boeta" Appollis and Van Rhyn, are applying for leave to appeal the convictions in the Western Cape High Court in Saldanha Bay.

Joshlin disappeared from the family's home in Saldanha on 19 February last year, and police are still searching for her.

Judge Nathan Erasmus in May sentenced them to life in prison for human trafficking and 10 years for kidnapping.

But yesterday, Advocate Nobahle Mkabayi, representing Steveno van Rhyn, tried to argue her client was unfairly tried and made several allegations against Erasmus.