Latest news with #LourenciaLombaard
Eyewitness News
12-08-2025
- Eyewitness News
Joshlin Smith trial: Lourencia Lombaard, 2 co-accused apply for leave to appeal conviction, sentences
CAPE TOWN – A mother and two others convicted of selling her daughter are applying for leave to appeal their convictions and sentences. Kelly Smith, her boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis and his friend Steveno van Rhyn were handed life sentences for human trafficking in May. This is after the court accepted the State's version, that then six-year-old Joshlin Smith was sold to a sangoma in Saldanha Bay in February last year. ALSO READ: Joshlin Smith: Former accused-turned-State witness Lourencia Lombaard returned to the dock The girl is still missing. The matter was adjourned for the day and continues in the Western Cape High Court on Wednesday. Meanwhile, former accused-turned-State witness, Lourencia Lombaard, was also in court to hear the argument around whether she should be granted indemnity. Lombaard had testified to witnessing Smith sell the child for R20,000 in February 2024. The National Prosecuting Authority's Eric Ntabazalila explained: 'We can confirm that arguments began this morning in the application for leave to appeal involving the accused in the Joshlin Smith matter, as well as the Section 204 witness issue involving Ms Lourencia Lombaard. The case has been postponed to tomorrow morning [Wednesday] and judgement is expected to be delivered tomorrow morning on both matters."
Eyewitness News
12-08-2025
- Eyewitness News
Joshlin Smith: Former accused-turned-state witness Lourencia Lombaard returned to the dock
CAPE TOWN - Former accused-turned-state witness in the Joshlin Smith trial, Lourencia Lombaard, has on Tuesday returned to the dock. The court has heard arguments as to why she should be granted indemnity. The missing girl was six years old when she disappeared in Saldanha Bay in February last year, and in May, her mother, Kelly Smith, her mother's boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis and his friend, Steveno van Rhyn, were handed life sentences for human trafficking. Lourencia Lombaard may only hear on Wednesday whether she'll be granted indemnity from prosecution. During the argument in her favour, the court heard she had testified, frankly and honestly, as a State witness. ALSO READ: Joshlin Smith: NPA says Lourencia Lombaard should be indemnified from prosecution Huge personal sacrifices were also highlighted, as she and her children were uprooted from their lives and community to be placed under witness protection. Lombaard's testimony proved pivotal in the conviction and sentencing of Kelly, Appollis and van Rhyn. She told the court she witnessed Smith sell her daughter to a sangoma for R20,000 in February 2024. The court is also hearing applications for leave to appeal the convictions and sentences handed down in May, but the convicted traffickers are not present in court.
