Cold comfort in Joshlin ruling

A FLOOD of emotion was triggered when sentencing was handed by Judge Nathan Erasmus in the Joshlin Smith kidnapping matter at the Western Cape High Court, sitting at the White City Multipurpose Centre in Diazville, Saldanha Bay.

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Joshlin’s mother, Racquel ‘Kelly’ Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen ‘Boeta’ Appollis, who was supposed to be watching over the 6-year-old when she disappeared, and the couple's friend ‘Steffie’ van Rhyn, were convicted and handed life sentences for their respective roles.

While the conviction and sentencing was widely welcomed, it was cold comfort, especially for Joshlin’s grandmother, Amanda Smith-Daniels, her father Jose Emke and the family who previously attempted to adopt the child without success.

The ruling doesn’t bring back Joshlin.