Joslin Smith Trial: Lourentia Lombaard Cracks Under Cross-Examination and Seemingly Changes Story

• The state's witness, Lourentia Lombaard, appeared to change details from her initial statement during cross-examination
• Lombaard took the stand on 19 March 2025 to face cross-examination by the defence teams of the accused
• After facing intense questioning from Jacquin Appollis' lawyer, Lombaard altered her version of events before breaking down

Tebogo Mokwena, a current affairs writer for Briefly News, provided insights into the criminal justice system, crime statistics and high-profile cases in South Africa at Daily Sun.

SALDANHA BAY, WESTERN CAPE — State witness Lourentia Lombaard lost her composure when she was cross-examined during Joslin Smith's disappearance trial on 19 March 2025. This was after she appeared to change her story under intense scrutiny.

What happened to Lombaard?

Lombaard took the stand at the White City Multipurpose Centre in Saldanha Bay, Western Cape. Kelly Smith, her boyfriend Jacquin "Boeta" Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn are facing charges of kidnapping and human trafficking. They pleaded not guilty and have been in custody since their arrest in March 2024. Lombaard, however, turned state witness after the state found no evidence against her.

Read also

Joslin Smith: Uncle makes plea for case to focus on Joslin and not his siblings' looks

When she originally testified during the trial's second week, she said that she went to Kelly's house on 18 February 2024. When she was there, she saw a detective's bakkie. A detective was questioning Boeta, which upset Kelly, who threatened to stab him to death. She said she was with her children when she witnessed the altercation.

Lombaard's story cracks

The defence asked her on numerous occasions where her children were. She clarified four times that the children were with her. She even mentioned in a statement she made to the police that she was with her children when she went to Kelly's house. Boeta's lawyer, Fanie Harmse, questioned why she needed to clarify that the children were with her. He emphasised that in her first statement, she did not mention the children. She insisted that they were with her.

Judge Nathan Erasmus asked Lombaard for more clarity, and she admitted that she made a mistake and that the children weren't with her. Erasmus pressed for an explanation as she mentioned in her testimony numerous times that her children were with her, but she was now changing her story. She tried to explain what she meant, but when she couldn't find the words she broke down and started crying. The proceedings were adjourned.

Read also

Joslin Smith trial: Defence lawyer pokes holes in Lombaard’s testimony during cross-examination

What you need to know about Lombaard's involvement

• Lombaard took the stand on 13 March 2025 to begin her testimony as a state witness.
• She testified that Kelly Smith confessed to her that she sold her child to a sangoma for R20,000.
• She also said that Kelly said the sangoma who paid R20,000 wanted Joslin's eyes and her skin.
• Lombaard said that Kelly was paid hush money to keep her from saying anything about Joslin's disappearance.
• Harmse questioned her testimony during the cross-examination and dissected key details.

Witness saw Kelly Smith drag Joslin into shack

In another article, Briefly News reported that a witness testified that she saw Kelly drag Joslin into her shack the night before she disappeared. She also said that she saw Kelly argue with whom she assumed was Boeta.

The witness, a neighbour, testified during the third week of the proceedings. South Africans slammed Kelly and many condemned her as a terrible parent.

Proofreading by Roxanne Dos Ramos, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.

Source: Briefly News