CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — A South African woman went on trial Monday charged with kidnapping and selling her young daughter in a case that gained national attention.
Kelly Smith is charged alongside her partner and another man over the disappearance of her daughter Joshlin more than a year ago. Joshlin, who was 6 when she disappeared, is still missing following a nationwide police hunt.
Smith — whose full name is Racquel Chantel Smith — was charged with kidnapping and human trafficking. Prosecutors alleged she organized the abduction of her daughter in return for payment with the help of her partner Jacquin Appollis and friend Steveno van Rhyn.
All three defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges as the trial opened in a sports hall in the small coastal town of Saldanha Bay. The trial was moved to the hall to give members of the community an opportunity to attend.
Smith won sympathy across South Africa in the early days of Joshlin's disappearance and neighbors joined together to help police search for the child in sand dunes near the impoverished settlement of shacks and small houses where they lived. Smith claimed she left Joshlin with Appollis on the day she went missing in February 2024 and hadn't seen her again.
The case took a shocking twist when police took Smith in for questioning and later arrested her. Another woman who was arrested was not charged and is reportedly due to testify as a state witness.
Prosecutors said in the indictment that Smith had been planning to sell Joshlin and her two other children since August 2023. Only Joshlin went missing. They also alleged that Smith and Joshlin were seen getting into a white vehicle with a bag of clothes the day the girl was reported missing.
The case has provoked anger in the community. Crowds gathered outside the sports hall, chanting “We want Joshlin back,” according to local media reports.
Judge Nathan Erasmus said the three defendants could face life in prison if they are found guilty.
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FILE - Kelly Smith, the mother of missing Joshlin Smith, appears in court in Vredenburg, South Africa, Thursday, March 7, 2024. (AP Photo, File)
NEW YORK (AP) — Giancarlo Stanton stole his first base since 2000 and had a go-ahead, two-run single to help the New York Yankees beat the Miami Marlins 9-7 on Saturday night for their second 7-1 start in three seasons.
Stanton snapped a 6-6 tie in the eighth with a clean single to left field off Michael Petersen (1-1) after the reliever walked three. In the seventh, Stanton swiped second for his first steal since Aug. 3, 2020.
The Yankees won in their final at-bat for the first time this year after Javier Sanoja hit a tying two-run double off Camilo Doval in the eighth. Brett Headrick (1-0) finished the eighth, and David Bednar loaded the bases before getting his fourth save.
Cody Bellinger helped the Yankees rally from a four-run deficit through four innings by hitting a two-run homer in the fifth and lifting a sacrifice fly in the sixth for a 5-4 lead.
Trent Grisham started New York’s three-run sixth with an RBI base hit and Aaron Judge followed with a tying single off Anthony Bender.
After drawing 11 walks Friday in an 8-2 win, the Yankees had 10 more.
The Yankees won their fourth straight after a short outing from Ryan Weathers against his former team. Acquired from the Marlins on Jan. 13, Weathers allowed three runs and six hits in 3 2/3 innings.
The game was delayed for about 10 minutes in the fourth when plate umpire Ron Kulpa exited after taking a foul ball off his mask. Scott Barry moved from first base to the plate and the game finished with three umpires.
Max Fried (2-0, 0.00 ERA), who has pitched 13 1/3 scoreless innings, was set to start Sunday for the Yankees against RHP Chris Paddack (0-1, 18.00).
Miami Marlins catcher Agustín Ramírez connects for a single during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Saturday, April 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
Miami Marlins pitcher Max Meyer throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Saturday, April 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
New York Yankees' Cody Bellinger tosses his bat after a home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Saturday, April 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
New York Yankees' Cody Bellinger (35) celebrates his two-run home run with Aaron Judge during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Saturday, April 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
New York Yankees' Trent Grisham slides home to score during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Saturday, April 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
