Joshlin Smith trial adjourned for second time as Lombaard gets emotional under cross-examination
Lourencia Lombaard had to be escorted from the dock for a second time on Wednesday after buckling under cross-examination.
Former accused in the Joshlin Smith trial, Lourentia Lombaard, testified at the Western Cape High Court sitting in the Saldanha Bay Multi-Purpose Centre on 17 March 2025. Picture: Kayleen Morgan/EWN
SALDANHA BAY - The Joshlin Smith trial was adjourned for a second time on Wednesday after former accused-turned-State-witness, Lourencia Lombaard, became emotional while being cross-examined.
Earlier on Wednesday, proceedings were briefly adjourned because Lombaard was "unwell".
Joshlin's mother, Kelly Smith, Jacquen Appollis and Stevano van Rhyn are charged with kidnapping and human trafficking in the Western Cape High Court sitting in the Saldanha Bay Multi-Purpose Centre.
Lombaard had to be escorted from the dock for a second time on Wednesday after buckling under cross-examination.
The Joshlin Smith trial has been briefly adjourned for a second time today after former accused turned State witness, Lourencia Lombaard became emotional under cross-examination. CP pic.twitter.com/ZPaaT50uyb
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) March 19, 2025
Earlier, State prosecutors told Judge Nathan Erasmus that Lombaard was "unwell" after she initially requested to be excused.
Lombaard faced tough questioning from defence attorney, Fanie Harmse, and presiding Judge Nathan Erasmus related to discrepancies in her confession statement.
Lombaard implicated all of the accused in Smith's alleged plan to sell Joshlin to a sangoma for R20,000.
Before adjourning the matter until Thursday, Erasmus told the court that Lombaard was receiving medical attention and was not fit to proceed on Wednesday.