The Joshlin Smith trial continues today, with State witness Lourentia Lombaard expected to return to the stand after falling ill during cross-examination on Day 16.
What to expect from the Joshlin Smith trial on Day 17
The day was marked by tense exchanges between Lombaard and the defence attorneys for Steveno van Rhyn and Kelly Smith, as they pressed her on contradictions in her statements about Joshlin’s disappearance and the alleged sale of the six-year-old to a sangoma.
With cross-examinations still ongoing, today’s proceedings will likely see further scrutiny of Lombaard’s testimony, particularly regarding her timeline of events on 18 and 19 February 2024.
What’s Next in the Joshlin Smith Trial?
- Court resumes today, with Lombaard expected to return to the stand for further questioning.
- Kelly Smith’s lawyer, Rinesh Sivnarain, will likely continue cross-examining her March 2024 statement.
- Today’s focus will likely be on past inconsistencies to further challenge her credibility.
Readers can follow the live trial coverage today as the courtroom battle intensifies.
Recap of Day 16: Key testimonies and new revelations
Lombaard has implicated Kelly Smith, Jacquen Appollis, and Steveno van Rhyn in Joshlin’s alleged sale, but under questioning from Advocate Nobahle Mkabayi (representing Steveno van Rhyn), her version of events began to shift.
One of the biggest contradictions came when Mkabayi challenged Lombaard’s claim that she saw Kelly taking Joshlin to a white Polo on Sunday, 18 February 2024.
Initially, Lombaard insisted that Steveno was present both times she visited Kelly’s house that day. However, after repeated questioning, she changed her statement, saying that Steveno was not there when Kelly left with Joshlin.
Mkabayi then asked:
“Why would my client be paid when he didn’t witness anything? Why would he be paid more than you?”
Lombaard admitted she did not know the answer.
The defence also questioned her ability to see key details from a distance of over 90 meters, particularly when she claimed to have seen a woman near Ayanda’s carwash wearing an outfit with distinctive white dots.
Mkabayi sarcastically asked:
“Were you wearing binoculars?”
Lombaard stood by her claim, leading the State to request photo evidence to verify her position. After reviewing the site visit photographs, Lombaard pointed out a different standing position than the one originally believed, causing further confusion.
The judge, appearing frustrated, ordered that proceedings continue without further debate over her location.
Tensions Escalate in the Courtroom
As cross-examination continued, courtroom tensions boiled over:
- The defence accused Lombaard of falsely implicating Steveno because she disliked him.
- Lombaard initially agreed, but after intervention from the judge, she clarified that her accusations were based on what she witnessed, not personal feelings.
- The defence argued that Lombaard framed Steveno because he had accused Ayanda (her boyfriend) of kidnapping and selling Joshlin.
- Lombaard denied this, maintaining that Steveno was involved because he was present when Kelly took Joshlin to the Polo.
A particularly heated exchange occurred when Mkabayi tried to rephrase Lombaard’s testimony, suggesting that Kelly, Jacquen, Racquen (Kelly’s eldest son), and Steveno were all aware of the alleged sale.
The judge immediately overruled the question, reprimanding Mkabayi for misrepresenting testimony.
A Chaotic Session Leads to a Brief Adjournment
Tensions boiled over again when the judge clashed with the interpreter over a misinterpretation of Lombaard’s statements.
A five-minute adjournment was called to allow everyone to cool down before continuing.
Shortly before court adjourned, Kelly Smith’s lawyer, Rinesh Sivnarain, began his cross-examination of Lombaard.
Sivnarain focused on:
- Lombaard’s past friendship with Kelly Smith.
- Their drug use together.
- Her daily visits to Kelly’s shack.
- Tensions between them, particularly Kelly’s suspicions that Lombaard was having an affair with Jacquen Appollis.
However, before Sivnarain could press her on her March 2024 police statement, Lombaard suddenly reported feeling unwell, complaining that her head was spinning.
Judge Nathan Erasmus then adjourned the session, noting that this was the fourth time Lombaard had fallen ill at critical points in cross-examination.
