Joshlin Smith trial: Cross-examination of State's key witness continues
Former accused turned state witness - Lourentia Lombaard - will return to the dock to be cross-examined by defence attorneys for the accused.
Former accused in the Joshlin Smith trial, Lourentia Lombaard testifies 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 cross-examination of the state's main witness in the Joshlin Smith trial is set to continue on Monday after several discrepancies in her testimony were highlighted last week.
Former accused turned state witness - Lourentia Lombaard - will return to the dock to be cross-examined by defence attorneys for the accused.
Lombaard's testimony has implicated Joshlin's mother, Kelly Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis and his friend Stevano van Rhyn as being complicit in the little girl's disappearance.
Lombaard was taken to task during cross-examination last week for numerous contradictions in her testimony and confession statement.
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She testified she witnessed Smith sell Joshlin to a sangoma for R20, 000 before agreeing to pay her and Appollis and van Rhyn to keep quiet.
In her testimony, Lombaard told the court she overheard Smith and Appollis agree to split the money the day before Joshlin went missing.
However, in her confession to police in October last year - Lombaard stated the alleged agreement was on the day Joshlin disappeared.
She also shared conflicting versions about whether her children were with her when she allegedly overheard the conversation.