Reporter – George April
Cape Town:– The three convicted human traffickers and kidnappers in the Joshlin Smith case, Racquel “Kelly” Smith, Jacquen “Boeta” Appollis, and Steveno van Rhyn, are back in the Western Cape High Court today for the hearing of their application for leave to appeal, against the life sentences imposed on them.
Yesterday, CCN reported on questions being raised over the severity of their sentences, but at the time did not include the detail that the trio were scheduled to return to court to seek permission to appeal.
Public attention intensified on day one of the trial, when Lorenzia “Renz” Lombaard walked free as a state witness.
The appeal hearing, set down for two days, is being presided over by Judge Nathan Erasmus, the same judge who handed down the original life sentences. Today’s proceedings will determine whether the convicted traffickers are granted leave to challenge both their convictions and their sentences in a higher court.
The outcome of this application could have significant implications, particularly in light of the ongoing debate about heavy sentencing raised in yesterday’s report.
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