Joshlin Smith trial: Former accused turned State witness Lombaard continues testimony
Joshlin's mother, Kelly Smith, Jacquen Appollis, and Stevano van Rhyn face charges of kidnapping and human trafficking for the little girl's disappearance.
Former accused in the Joshlin Smith trial, Lourentia Lombaard, testified at the Western Cape High Court, sitting in the Multi-Purpose Centre on 14 March 2025. Picture: Kayleen Morgan/EWN
SALDANHA BAY - A former accused who turned State witness is set to continue her testimony in the Joshlin Smith trial on Monday after dropping several bombshells last week.
Joshlin's mother, Kelly Smith, Jacquen Appollis, and Stevano van Rhyn face charges of kidnapping and human trafficking for the little girl's disappearance.
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The accused are on trial in the Western Cape High Court, sitting in the Saldanha Bay multi-purpose centre.
Former accused Lourentia Lombaard told the court she overheard Smith's plan to sell Joshlin before witnessing the alleged incident.
Lombaard said that the day before Joshlin went missing, she watched Smith take Joshlin to a white car, where they met an unknown woman who gave Smith a small package.
Lombaard told the court Smith later confessed to selling Joshlin to a sangoma for R20,000.
She said Smith offered her and Van Rhyn R1,000 to keep quiet, while the rest of the money would be split between herself and Appollis.
Lombaard said she and Van Rhyn accepted the offer, but Smith never gave them any money.
Lombaard told the court that on the day Joshlin went missing, Smith took Joshlin to meet the same woman and later returned to report her missing.