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Medical Report to Decide If Key Witness Can Continue in Joshlin Smith Trial
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is awaiting a medical evaluation to determine whether the State’s key witness in the Joshlin Smith trial can continue with cross-examination.
Lourencia Lombaard, a former suspect turned State witness, was twice escorted from the witness stand on Wednesday after experiencing apparent panic attacks. She had been answering questions from the defence regarding her version of events on the day Joshlin disappeared.
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During her testimony, Lombaard implicated Joshlin’s mother, Kelly Smith, as well as Jacquen Appollis and Stevano van Rhyn, alleging that they sold the child to a sangoma for R20,000.
NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila confirmed that Lombaard had reported feeling unwell before cross-examination began.
“As the questioning continued, she became increasingly distressed. Depending on the doctors’ findings, we will decide how to proceed,” he said.
Should Lombaard be deemed unfit to continue on Thursday, the State plans to call Colonel Morris as the next witness. His testimony is expected to focus on social media activity and video evidence related to the case.
The trial is set to resume at the Saldanha Bay multipurpose centre, where the Western Cape High Court is presiding over proceedings.
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EWN
