The second week of the Josh Smith trial has been filled with disturbing revelations and emotional testimonies, as the court delves deeper into the disappearance of the young girl from her mother’s home on February 19th, 2023.

This week, the focus shifted to Kelly Smith, the mother of the missing six-year-old girl, who took center stage in the Western Cape High Court.

The trial brought to light a disturbing plot involving Kelly Smith, her boyfriend Jaquina Paulis, and their friend Stephen Off, who all face charges of human trafficking and kidnapping.

During her testimony, Kelly Smith broke down in the accused box as the details of her life began to unravel.

Testimony from Carlin Zegers, Kelly’s former employer, painted a complex picture of Kelly’s life and her love for her children, despite the struggles she had faced.

Zegers recalled Kelly’s devotion as a mother, even amid the hardships of her life, including domestic violence and substance abuse.

The emotional testimony from Zegers proved too much for Kelly, prompting a brief adjournment for her to compose herself.

Zegers, who worked closely with Kelly, described her as a good mother, despite her personal challenges.

Kelly’s life struggles were revealed as she faced domestic violence from both her ex-husband, Josh MK, and her boyfriend Jaquina Paulis.

Zegers recounted how she had witnessed Kelly’s battles and how, at times, Kelly was forced to deal with difficult situations involving her children.

Despite these struggles, the trial also highlighted Kelly’s attempts to have her daughter, Josh, placed for adoption.

In 2018, the Andrews family began the process to adopt Josh, but Kelly and Josh’s father disagreed, preventing the adoption from proceeding.

Natasha Andrews, who had been involved in the process, revealed how she and Kelly had visited social workers to begin the adoption procedure but were unable to proceed because Kelly’s parents refused to give their consent.

As the trial progressed, further revelations came to light.

Neighbor Namhlaten, who had assisted in the search for Josh, offered a different perspective on Kelly’s behavior.

He recounted his concern when Kelly seemed detached during the search, which led him to question her emotional response to her daughter’s disappearance.

Kelly, according to Namhlaten, appeared unaffected by the situation, further raising suspicions about her involvement.

In a chilling twist, Kelly Smith’s former employer Edna Mart testified that Kelly had confided in her about a phone call she had received after Josh’s disappearance.

Kelly allegedly claimed that a Nigerian man had told her that her child was being shipped to West Africa in a container.

Mart, deeply concerned, asked Kelly if she had reported the call to the police, but Kelly responded that she was afraid the people involved might harm her.

This testimony further deepened the mystery surrounding Josh’s disappearance.

It became clear that Kelly had been hiding more than just her involvement in her daughter’s abduction.

She had been part of a larger conspiracy, one that involved not just her own actions but also those of her boyfriend and friends.

These revelations painted a troubling picture of Kelly’s role in the tragic disappearance of her daughter.

The most significant moment of the trial came when Laurencia Lombard, a key state witness, took the stand.

Lombard, who had once been a co-accused, had been granted immunity in exchange for her testimony.

Lombard recounted how she came to know Kelly and her boyfriend, Jaquina Paulis, through her partner, who had previously sold drugs to them.

Lombard’s testimony connected Kelly directly to the events leading up to Josh’s disappearance.

Lombard testified that Kelly had confided in her that she had sold her child to a sangoma (traditional healer) for R50,000.

This shocking admission added a new layer of complexity to the case, as it suggested that Josh had been trafficked for money.

Kelly reportedly told Lombard that she had done this because she was in desperate need of money, further revealing her motivations behind the crime.

Lombard also testified about the days leading up to Josh’s disappearance.

On February 19th, Kelly had left for work but gave strict instructions regarding Josh’s fate.

According to Lombard, Kelly had made arrangements to have Josh taken away and placed in the care of another person.

Lombard recalled seeing the vehicle that was involved in the abduction, which added further evidence to the growing suspicion that Kelly had orchestrated the whole plan.

As the trial continued, the details of Kelly’s actions became more chilling.

Lombard revealed how Kelly had lied to the police about her daughter’s disappearance, maintaining the deception that Josh was missing while, in reality, she had arranged for her to be taken elsewhere.

Lombard also testified that Kelly offered her and her co-accused money to remain silent about what had happened, further confirming the level of manipulation involved.

Despite the growing evidence against Kelly, the trial is still ongoing, with cross-examinations yet to come.

The public continues to await the final outcome of the case, with the key question being whether Kelly will be held accountable for her role in her daughter’s disappearance.