Former accused Lourentia Lombaard takes to the witness stand in Joshlin Smith trial

CAPE TOWN - The testimony of one of the key witnesses in the Joshlin Smith trial is being heard on Thursday afternoon in the High Court in Saldanha Bay.

Lourentia Lombaard, a State witness who was initially an accused in the case, is currently on the witness stand, where she is expected to testify about her knowledge of Joshlin’s disappearance.

Lombaard originally appeared in court alongside Joshlin’s mother, Kelly Smith, and her co-accused Jacquen Appollis and Stevano van Rhyn, in connection with Joshlin’s disappearance.

However, the case against her was withdrawn, and she later became a Section 204 witness, which is a witness who was previously involved in the case and can be granted immunity by the court if they testify truthfully.

Joshlin disappeared on 19 February last year. The State alleges that her mother, Kelly, sold her to an unknown woman.