A large crowd is expected to attend the Joshlin Smith trial as Laurentia Lombaard continues her testimony.
On Thursday, the mother-of-four took the stand just minutes before the Western Cape High Court adjourned.
In March 2024, Lombaard, popularly known as "Renz," was arrested alongside Joshlin’s mother, Racquel ‘Kelly’ Smith, her boyfriend, Jacquen ‘Boeta’ Appollis, and their friend, Steveno ‘Steffie’ van Rhyn. They were charged with kidnapping and human trafficking following the disappearance of the six-year-old.
Joshlin had last been seen at her Middelpos home on 19 February 2024, reportedly in the care of her mother’s boyfriend, Boeta.
A few months after her arrest, Lombaard turned state witness. At her first court appearance, she addressed her family in the public gallery, saying she had told the police everything.
On Thursday, five witnesses testified, including Lombaard. Among them were Shakeerah ‘Shakes Warrior’ Ganief and evangelist Nico Steven Coetzee.
Ganief testified about Kelly’s behaviour, telling the court that the accused did not act like a mother whose child was missing. The TikToker also stated that Kelly repeatedly told people to stop searching for Joshlin and to let the police do their job.
Meanwhile, Coetzee testified about Kelly’s alleged plan to have her children taken away. He told the court that she said she would be paid R20 000 but would accept R5 000.
Lombaard had begun describing events from the day before Joshlin vanished when the court adjourned to allow defence lawyers to consult with their clients.
On the tenth day of the trial, proceedings are expected to conclude at 1 pm to allow for further consultations following Lombaard’s evidence-in-chief. Cross-examination is scheduled to begin on Monday.
Judge Nathan Erasmus urged members of the public to arrive on time, as he expects the courtroom to be full.
Earlier this week, another witness testified that Kelly had claimed Joshlin was in a shipping container on a boat to West Africa.
IOL