Judge issues stern warning to witness Lombaard in Joshlin Smith case

The presiding judge in the Joshlin Smith kidnapping and human trafficking trial, Judge Nathan Erasmus, has issued a stern warning to the state’s key witness, Lourentia Lombaard.

Yesterday’s proceedings were adjourned early at the High Court sitting in Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape, after Lombaard fell ill. Erasmus has also expressed frustration at all the delays in the case.

He also made reference to Lombaard’s continuous discrepancies in her testimony and original police statement.

Lombaard has stated that she often gets confused.

Judge Erasmus had this to say, “If your evidence is correct, the accused and in particular Miss Smith faces life in prison. If you don’t listen to the questions and ultimately it affects your credibility, it might also affect my decision whether to discharge you from the charges and grant your indemnity.”

Joshlin’s mother, Kelly Smith, Jacquen “Boeta” Apollis and Steveno van Rhyn are the three accused in connection with the child’s disappearance.