-
State witness in the Joshlin Smith kidnapping case, Lourentia Lombaard, takes an oath before testifying.
The cross examination of the key state witness, Lourentia Lombaard, in the Joshlin Smith trial, is continuing in the Western Cape High Court sitting at Saldanha Bay on the Cape West Coast.
Lombaard is being questioned by accused Steveno Van Rhyn’s lawyer, Nobahle Mkabayi.
Mkabayi maintains that Lombaard is lying about her client having anything to do with discussions about the money they received from the sangoma in exchange for Joshlin.
Joshlin’s mother, Kelly Smith, Jacquen “Boeta” Appollis, and Van Rhyn are on trial for kidnapping and human trafficking after Joshlin Smith went missing without a trace earlier last year.
There’s been some frustration in court today from Judge Nathan Erasmus with how Mkabayi has been posing her questions to the witness.
“No Miss Mkabayi, no. I’ve already ruled on that. The witness never said that six people were present in the discussion. Requin was in a different room, Joshlin was outside…and I’ve ruled on it. That’s where my lord and with due respect. I’m going to take a five-minute adjournment…everyone take a deep breath and let’s stick to the facts as they are on record. When I come back, I don’t want this to and fro again,” says Erasmus during court proceedings.
LIVE | Watch Cross-examination of key witnesses continues in Joshlin kidnap trial
