Detective Captain Wesley Lombard testified that during his interview with Racquel ‘Kelly’ Smith and her boyfriend, Jacquen ‘Boeta’ Appollis, he found it clear that they lacked urgency in finding missing Joshlin.
He stated that although they were not under arrest at the time, he warned them about their rights, as he considered all of them suspects.
Lombard testified at the Western Cape High Court sitting in the White City Multipurpose Centre in Diazville, Saldanha Bay, on Thursday morning.
The couple were arrested with their friends Steveno ‘Steffie’ van Rhyn and former accused Laurentia ‘Renz’ Lombaard weeks after the six-year-old vanished from her Middelpos home.
The detective said Boeta has children of his own but did not live with them and became concerned that the father could not specify the exact time Joshlin went missing.
When asked, he struggled to recall the circumstances surrounding her disappearance. He mentioned that after buying gas and using Tik with Kelly, she realised Joshlin was gone.
Lombard noted concerning red flags: “Boeta could not recall key details about Joshlin’s disappearance, nor could he describe his relationship with her, despite living with her.
“Meanwhile, Kelly insisted she loved Boeta and was a good mother.”
When Lombard asked Kelly where Joshlin was, she coldly responded: “My child is not here anymore. I must carry on with my life because I have two other children.”
He said she became upset when pressed further.
He was particularly disturbed when Kelly remarked: “Joshlin made me famous,” and seemed to enjoy the attention.
She showed no remorse and even declined to provide another statement, saying she had breakfast plans with Boeta at Spur.
Lombard expressed that he found their behaviour shocking, stating that neither Kelly nor Boeta showed a true willingness to help find Joshlin.
He also observed that Kelly appeared to be protecting Boeta and was the dominant voice in their relationship.
The trial continues.
Cape Argus