As the third week begins in the kidnapping trial of Joshlin Smith, the defence legal team is expected to continue their cross-examination.
Last week, several witnesses took the stand, including Lourentia Lombaard, a former accused who has since turned state witness.
Lombaard was arrested alongside the missing girl’s mother, Racquel ‘Kelly’ Smith, her boyfriend, Jacquen ‘Boeta’ Appollis, and Steveno ‘Steffie’ van Rhyn.
All four face charges of kidnapping and human trafficking following Joshlin's disappearance on 19 February 2024, when she was just six years old and in the care of Appollis.
During the trial, it emerged from various witnesses that Kelly had allegedly planned to sell her children for R20,000.
Lombaard testified in the Western Cape High Court, sitting at the White City Multipurpose Centre in Diazville, that she saw Kelly taking the child to a car.
On the previous day, 18 February 2024, Kelly reportedly met a woman she assumed was a sangoma, who handed something to Kelly that Lombaard believed to be money.
Lombaard claimed she overheard Kelly and Boeta discussing plans to sell Joshlin and attempted to intervene but was ignored.
On Thursday, she admitted to initially lying to police and expressed deep remorse for her involvement.
Under cross-examination, Lombaard confirmed she had lied to a police officer and was under the influence of drugs before her arrest.
Judge Erasmus pointed out inconsistencies in her testimony.
The mother-of-four is expected to finish her cross-examination with Fanie Harmse, Appollis’ lawyer.
A new witness, Colonel Morris, is set to examine the authenticity of pictures and videos involving the accused.
On Tuesday, Kelly’s sister, Mickeyla Daniels, testified that Kelly had mentioned someone wanted to sell Joshlin.
Another witness, Paulina Tshosa, recounted witnessing Kelly arguing with a man before taking Joshlin into a shack, where she heard noises of falling objects.
The trial has been postponed until Monday morning.
Cape Argus