Joshlin Smith trial: State witness Lourencia Lombaard granted full immunity from prosecution
Once in the dock herself, Lombaard turned State witness and testified against her co-accused in the Joshlin Smith matter.
Lourencia Lombaard (foreground in black & white jacket), a former accused-turned-State witness in the Joshlin Smith trial, returned to the Western Cape High Court in Cape Town on 12 August 2025. The court is hearing argument as to why she should be granted indemnity. Picture: Kayleen Morgan/EWN
CAPE TOWN - Section 204 witness Lourentia Lombaard has been granted full immunity from prosecution.
Once in the dock herself, Lombaard turned State witness and testified against her co-accused in the Joshlin Smith matter.
She appeared before the Western Cape High Court.
Earlier, those three were denied leave to appeal their sentences and convictions for kidnapping and trafficking the six-year-old girl.
Lombaard smiled as an interpreter murmured the English judgment in Afrikaans that she would not be prosecuted.
ALSO READ | Joshlin Smith trial: State witness Lourencia Lombaard granted full immunity from prosecution
Rushing out of the court flanked by members of the media, the once accused turned state witness said she had nothing more to say as she left.
While delivering his judgement, Judge Nathan Erasmus recalled being exposed to her poor standard of living and noted that she looked better after being addicted to drugs for a long period of her life. He also commended her for her honesty.
“What I can say about you, Miss Lombaard, you owned up to your mistakes, always.”
Judge Erasmus said the state would not have successfully prosecuted the other three without her testimony, which eventually landed her a deal with the State.