Joshlin Smith trial: Defence attorney says Lombaard mistaken about certain details in testimony
On Tuesday, defence attorney Fanie Harmse, who represents accused Appollis told Lombaard she was mistaken about certain details in her testimony.
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
CAPE TOWN - A defence attorney for one of the accused in the Joshlin Smith trial on Tuesday tried to discredit the State's star witness, Lourentia Lombaard.
Joshlin's mother, Kelly Smith, Jacquen Appollis and Stevano van Rhyn are charged with kidnapping and human trafficking for the girl's disappearance.
The accused are on trial in the Western Cape High Court sitting in the Saldanha Bay Multi-Purpose Centre.
On Tuesday, defence attorney Fanie Harmse, who represents Appollis, told Lombaard she was mistaken about certain details in her testimony.
Lombaard has implicated all of the accused as being complicit in Kelly Smith's plan to sell Joshlin to a sangoma for R20,000.
READ: Witness testifies Kelly Smith angrily pulled Joshlin into shack on night before disappearance
Lombaard testified that she witnessed a detective question Appollis about stolen chickens on 18 February 2024, the day before Joshlin went missing.
The chickens were allegedly stolen from a nearby farm in Middelpos.
Harmse told Lombaard that Appollis admitted he was interviewed by the detective, but it happened on Saturday, 17 February, and not on Sunday.
The trial continues.