South African woman gets life sentence for selling her 6-year-old daughter
CBSMAY 28
South African Mother Gets Life Sentence for Selling 6-Year-Old Daughter
Above:
Raquel "Kelly" Smith stands in court while being sentenced on charges of kidnapping and human trafficking in Saldanha Bay on May 29, 2025. Image copyright: Rodger Bosch/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
The severity of the sentencing in this tragic case rightfully reflects the heinous nature of the crime. What Kelly Smith did to her own daughter is beyond moral comprehension. When coupled with her and her accomplices' total lack of remorse and consistent lying before the court, they deserved no punishment less than the maximum sentencing guidelines allow.
Narrative B
While Kelly Smith’s crime is abominable, and she deserves to face the full consequences of her actions, it's important to reflect on the failings of the state in this case. Despite the grandmother petitioning for a protection order and Smith suffering from a long history of drug abuse, the system did not intervene to support the family in its time of need. If it had, this tragedy could possibly have been avoided.