KEY POINTS
- The house of Kelly Smith suffered a complete burn down after her conviction.
- The police department declared the fire an arson case for investigation.
- A police custodial team took an adult woman for questioning.
A fire destroyed the Kelly Smith’s home where Joshlin Smith lived with her but it happened right after she received her conviction for trafficking and kidnapping her daughter at the Western Cape High Court.
The long-awaited legal decision came from Judge Nathan Erasmus who made his announcement at White City Multipurpose Centre in Diazville which resulted in felony convictions for Smith together with her companions Jacquen ‘Boeta’ Appollis and Steveno ‘Steffie’ van Rhyn.
Investigation into the Kelly Smith’s home that was set ablazed
The fire received arson classification due to police statement from Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm Pojie. The Saldanha SAPS started an arson investigation through which they analyzed the fire that destroyed Kelly Smith’s Middelpos house. The authorities detained a female adult individual for interrogation at the Diazville Multipurpose Centre,” Pojie informed.
The West Coast community remains deeply affected after the recent court verdict because Joshlin disappeared on February 19, 2024. The child went missing at the family home when Appollis took responsibility for his care.
Judge Erasmus’s decision about the exchange caused loud gasps and cheers to ring out from the audience in the public gallery.
Sentencing to happen for Kelly Smith and others
Saldanha will soon welcome the case back to conduct the sentencing for the case involving significant pain and unanswered questions. During this extended period before sentencing on May 9, 2025 the accused persons must stay behind bars.
Western Cape Police Commissioner General Thembisile Patekile stood outside the courtroom to state that the search efforts for Joshlin persist. According to Patekile police will achieve justice through the verdict even though Joshlin’s search continues. “She is not forgotten.”
A tragic fire incident expands the dreadful circumstances of this story by intensifying deep interest from across the nation and driving new concerns about child safety and failed search efforts for answers.
