Joshlyn Smith of Saldanha Bay has been missing since February 19. (Executive Mayor Andre Truter/Facebook)
TCases filed against four suspects in disappearance of 6-year-old Joshlyn Smith
The February deadline was extended until Sept. 16 to allow the state to complete its investigation.
Joshlyn's mother, Kelly Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen “Boeta” Apolis, Stevano van Rhein and Laurentia Lombard appeared in the Vredenburg Magistrate's Court on Monday. They are charged with trafficking in persons with the intent to exploit and kidnapping and had withdrawn their bail applications at an earlier court appearance.
This is the second time the state has requested an adjournment of the case to allow time to complete its investigation into the girl's disappearance.
“Further forensic analysis is pending completion and administrative matters are being addressed in the meantime,” state prosecutors told the Frydenburg Court on Monday.
The court heard the case will be heard in the High Court after the defendant appears in court on September 16.
Joshlyn disappeared from her home in Middelpos informal settlement in Saldanha Bay on February 19.
When Joshlyn went missing, her mother told police she had been out for the day and returned home to find her daughter gone. She called Apolis, her boyfriend, who she had been looking after, but he was unable to provide a location for her.
In March, state prosecutor Jack Van Wyk said Lombard, a fourth suspect in the case, had confessed, but did not say what he confessed. Van Wyk said he could not provide further details.
Lombard was reportedly the last person to see Joshlyn before she disappeared.