Van Rhyn suspects Lombaard, her boyfriend kidnapped Joshlin Smith

CAPE TOWN - One of the accused in the Joshlin Smith trial has denied having any involvement in the child's disappearance, saying he suspects State witness Lourentia Lombaard and her boyfriend kidnapped the child.

Lombaard was in the dock again on Tuesday to continue her cross-examination.

Her testimony implicated Joshlin's mother, Kelly Smith, Jacquen Appollis and Stevano van Rhyn for being complicit in the little girl's disappearance.

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Defence attorney Nobahle Mkabhayi today told the court her client, Van Rhyn, witnessed Lombaard take Joshlin from her home on the day the child disappeared, but she never brought her back.

Van Rhyn told police he suspected Lombaard and her boyfriend, Ayanda Letoni, kidnapped Joshlin and gave her to a sangoma for muthi.

Lombaard denied this but admitted she took Joshlin to her shack on the day the child disappeared to make her a sandwich.

Lombaard previously told the court that Letoni moved back to Eastern Cape shortly after Joshlin went missing.

Mkabhayi asked Lombaard whether she dragged Van Rhyn into the matter because he told police his theory about Lombaard and Letoni.

Lombaard denied this, saying she had no reason to implicate Van Rhyn.