The Joshlin Smith trial continues today with the cross-examination of Captain Wesley Lombard, who has been outlining the police investigation into the disappearance of the six-year-old.
What to expect from the Joshlin Smith trial on Day 19
His testimony has already led to emotional outbursts, contradictions in suspect statements, and insight into how the investigation evolved between 20 and 26 February 2024.
Day 19 is expected to focus on the legality of the police’s interview methods, especially concerning whether the suspects were properly informed of their rights before making statements.
As the trial moves forward, the court will now begin to assess the legality of the suspects’ interviews.
Captain Lombard admitted that suspects were not immediately informed of their rights the day they were held for questioning on 4 March 2024, a factor that could affect whether their statements are allowed in court.
A trial within a trial is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, 1 April 2025, to examine these procedural issues and to determine the admissibility of statements Jacquen Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn gave while detained on 5 March 2024.
Today’s session (Day 19) is expected to continue with the cross-examination of Captain Lombard, potentially focusing on how the suspects were treated and whether their rights were respected.
Readers can follow the live trial coverage today as the courtroom battle intensifies.
Recap of Day 18: Key testimonies and new revelations
Resuming his evidence, Captain Wesley Lombard walked the court through interviews with Kelly Smith, Jacquen Appollis, and Racquen, highlighting inconsistencies that raised suspicions early in the investigation.
According to Kelly, she returned home at 13:50 on 19 February 2024 to find two of her children there. She claimed to begin searching for Joshlin soon after.
Jacquen, however, said he saw Joshlin walking away from home at 14:00 after giving her food and telling her to move out of the sun. He said this was the last time he saw her.
Racquen added to the confusion by stating that Kelly had returned home to eat lunch before going back to work. He said Jacquen fed both him and Joshlin after she left.
Captain Lombard pointed out a critical contradiction:
- If Kelly arrived at 13:50 and found two children at home, one of them should have been Joshlin.
- Yet she claimed she started looking for her shortly after that.
This inconsistency, Lombard testified, undermines the timeline provided by the accused and contributed to raising red flags in the early investigation.
Lombard described Kelly’s demeanour during interviews as dismissive and emotionally distant. She allegedly told officers, “Joshlin is not here anymore,” and later added, “Joshlin made me famous,” with what Lombard called a bizarre grin.
The situation escalated when Lombard told Kelly that Jacquen and Steveno had named her in connection to Joshlin’s disappearance. Kelly reportedly became hysterical, shouting:
“How can Boeta do this to me? I trusted him! I loved him!”
Lombard testified that he responded:
“You’re worried about Boeta, but not Joshlin.”
Kelly then reportedly screamed, “What must I do? The child is gone!”, blaming her own family for the situation.
The emotional toll was visible in court—Kelly fell ill during proceedings after hearing parts of this testimony and had to be rushed out of the courtroom for medical attention.
Jacquen and Steveno’s Statements Turn the Case
Captain Lombard recounted how, on 4 March 2024, both Jacquen and Steveno approached police separately, saying they wanted to tell the truth.
Initially, both had said investigators should “ask Kelly” about Joshlin. But each later pointed to a woman they claimed might know where the child was. While her role in the case remains unclear, Lombard said Kelly appeared to recognise the woman’s children when she arrived at the station.
Lombard testified that after being told she had been named, Kelly broke down in front of police, and later had a confrontation with Jacquen, reportedly shouting:
“Why did you do me like that?”
To which Jacquen allegedly responded:
“It’s you! Tell the police.”
Following this, all three—Kelly, Jacquen, and Steveno—were formally arrested and charged with kidnapping on 5 March 2024.
