Joshlin Smith trial: State's main witness buckles under pressure of cross-examination
Lourentia Lombaard's cross-examination came to a halt twice on Wednesday before Judge Nathan Erasmus adjourned the matter early.
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 State's main witness in the Joshlin Smith trial seemed to buckle under pressure this week during cross-examination.
Joshlin's mother, Kelly Smith, Jacquen Appollis and Stevano van Rhyn are charged with kidnapping and human trafficking related to the child's disappearance.
Former accused-turned-State witness, Lourentia Lombaard, was cross-examined after implicating the accused as being complicit in selling Joshlin to a sangoma for R20,000.
Defence attorney Fanie Harmse, who represents Jacquen Appollis, started his cross-examination of Lombaard by telling her that she was mistaken about certain details in her testimony.
Lombaard's cross-examination came to a halt twice on Wednesday before Judge Nathan Erasmus adjourned the matter early.
The witness initially asked to be excused after being grilled by Harmse about her version of events the day before Joshlin went missing.
Lombaard returned but after a few minutes of tough questioning, she seemed to have a panic attack and became unresponsive.
Lombaard was escorted from the dock by court orderlies and the matter was adjourned for her to receive medical care.
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
Lombaard was back in the dock on Thursday when numerous discrepancies were highlighted in her testimony and the confession statement she gave police in October last year.
The matter will be back in court on Monday.