Kelly Smith accuses Lombaard of being the mastermind behind Joshlin's disappearance
Smith's attorney on Wednesday told the court his client believed that former accused-turned-State-witness, Lourentia Lombaard, was protecting herself and boyfriend Ayanda Letoni.
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 - Kidnapping and human trafficking accused, Kelly Smith, has accused the State's main witness in the Joshlin Smith trial of being the mastermind behind the little girl's disappearance.
Smith's attorney on Wednesday told the court his client believed that former accused-turned-State-witness, Lourentia Lombaard, was protecting herself and boyfriend Ayanda Letoni.
Sivnarain told the court that Smith insists that Lombaard and Letoni were the real masterminds behind Joshlin's disappearance.
Smith's lawyer, Rinesh Sivnarain, told the court that Smith denies everything about Lombaard's testimony that relates to the charges she faces.
Lombaard previously testified that she witnessed Smith sell Joshlin to a sangoma for R20,000 before offering the accused money to keep quiet.
The attorney told the court that Smith believes Lombaard testified against the accused to protect herself and her boyfriend, Letoni.
Sivnarain told Lombaard that she was the last person seen with Joshlin on the day the child went missing, and when Smith came to look for Joshlin at Lombaard's shack, Letoni could not account for Lombaard's whereabouts.
Lombaard admitted that she took Joshlin to make a sandwich, but later returned the child to Smith's shack.
Sivnarain said that Smith believes one of the reasons why Letoni left Saldanha Bay a few days after Joshlin went missing was because Letoni was involved in her disappearance.