Mother found guilty of kidnapping, selling 6-year-old daughter for $1,085

A South African court found Racquel “Kelly” Smith guilty of human trafficking and kidnapping for selling her six-year-old daughter, Joshlin Smith, for 20,000 rand ($1,085) in February 2024.
The conviction followed a two-month trial in Saldanha Bay with testimony from 35 state witnesses, including the girl’s teacher and local pastor.
Smith, her boyfriend, and a friend were found guilty; Smith was condemned for treating her daughter as a commodity and was disturbingly calm during the search.
Joshlin remains missing, and sentencing is pending, with the accused potentially facing life imprisonment.