As Laurentia Lombaard concluded her evidence in chief on Monday, she told the court how she tried stopping Kelly.

Lombaard has been on the stand since Thursday and her testimony has sent shockwaves through the court and the broader community.

Lombaard, a previous accused in the matter, has since turned State witness and told the court she did not initially tell police the truth.

“I was very nervous and scared,” she told the court.

Jacquen 'Boeta' Appollis, Steveno van Rhyn and Joshlin’s mother Kelly Smith are on trial in Saldanha and face charges of kidnapping and human trafficking.

The trio have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

Joshlin went missing on February 19, 2024, from her home in Middelpos. It has been over a year and there has been no sighting of the green-eyed girl.

Lombaard became a State witness in October last year and when asked by the State why, she said: “I told myself that I was going to speak the truth as I could no longer hide things”.

Lombaard said when she was arrested in the matter, it was her first time, however, she had previously been held in the police holding cells in Langebaan and Strandfontein (she could not specify if it was Strandfontein near Cape Town or along the West Coast).

Her understanding was that being arrested meant that you would go to court and once you are sent to prison, that meant you were arrested.

Lombaard expressed remorse on the stand when asked how she feels following the incident and regarding her involvement.

“I feel very hurt. I am a mother of four and I didn’t know the plans Kelly and Boeta had. I only overheard them at a later stage about plans to sell the child. I tried to stop her [Kelly] but she wouldn’t listen,” Lombaard said, getting emotional on the stand.

“Wherever she is [Joshlin] ... I appeal to whoever may have the child. Please bring her home. I hope the child is alive. I am so sorry that I was involved,” Lombaard said.

She also remained adamant that the testimony she was giving the court was the truth.

Lombaard concluded her evidence, however, the court will be having her cross-examination take place at a later stage, so that other witnesses from outside the province who desire specialised interpreters, can testify first.

robin.francke@iol.co.za

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