The state witness within the Joslin Smith trial – Laurentia Lombaard – has admitted to mendacity to police in a press release after her arrest. This comes a day after her emotional breakdown throughout her cross-examination in courtroom after being painted as an “unreliable drug addict.”
The girl – a former accused who’s now a State 204 witness – has acknowledged beneath oath that Joslin’s mom, Kelly Smith, allegedly offered her to a sangoma for R20 000.
Kelly, her boyfriend, Jacquin “Boeta” Appollis, and pal Steveno van Rhyn are all on trial over expenses of kid trafficking for the needs of exploitation. They’ve pled not responsible. Joslin went lacking on 19 February 2024 from her Middelpos residence in Diazville.
The trial is going down beneath the Excessive Court docket, sitting on the Saldanha Bay Centre.
STATE WITNESS ADMITS TO LYING
On the third day of her cross-examination by one of many accused’s protection on Thursday, 20 March, Lourentia Lombaard admitted to mendacity to police in a recorded assertion after Joslin Smith’s disappearance. Her model of occasions from her March 2024 assertion differs from her confession to police in October, when she agreed to show state witness.
Lombaard – a self-confessed drug addict – was additionally accused of being excessive while making her preliminary assertion. She mentioned in courtroom: “I simply spoke. I didn’t know if I might inform individuals what occurred”.
Photographs by way of screenshot: SABC Information.
In accordance with Decide Nathan Erasmus, Lombaard additionally voiced her hope that authorities would “grant me free bail so I can go residence and are available to courtroom from residence.”
Lombaard was additionally accused of constructing a number of discrepancies between her assertion and confession, together with when Kelly Smith revealed plans to promote Joslin to a sangoma, the whereabouts of her kids on the day Joslin went lacking, and claims that Boeta accompanied Kelly and her baby to await the arrival of the sangoma.
The Saldanha Bay girl additionally claims that Kelly supplied to pay her R1000 in hush cash.
Nonetheless, she claims she by no means requested her about it, differing from allegations she confronted her nieghbour in regards to the cash a number of days later.
Lombaard answered that she was “confused,” “made a mistake,” and “lied.”
EMOTIONAL OUTBURST IN COURT
Makes an attempt to discredit Laurentia Lombaard comes amid her emotional breakdown in courtroom on Wednesday. Throughout her cross-examination, Lombaard fell ailing twice while on the stand. She cried uncontrollably and was unable to talk.
Photographs by way of YouTube screenshot: SABC.
As a Part 204 witness beneath the Legal Process Act, Lombaard could also be given indemnity if the decide finds she has testified honestly. If not, she might face expenses of perjury in addition to associated expenses to the trial.
DO YOU THINK THE JOSLIN SMITH STATE WITNESS IS TELLING THE TRUTH?
Tell us by leaving a remark under, or ship a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
Subscribe to The South African web site’s newsletters and comply with us on WhatsApp, Fb, X, and Bluesky for the newest information.
