Kelly Smith, the mother of little Joslin Smith, wiped away tears after members of the Middelpos informal settlement hurled insults at her amid allegations she sold her child for drug money.
The crowd also demanded to know the location of the child, who had been missing for over a year.
Kelly, her partner, Jacquin “Boeta” Apollis, and a male friend, Steveno van Rhyn, are on trial over charges of child trafficking and kidnapping.
The trial – under a sitting of the High Court – is taking place at the Saldanha Bay multi-purpose centre.
JOSLIN SMITH’S MOTHER WEEPS AFTER ANGRY CROWD CONFRONTS HER
On day four of the trial, the three accused were taken on an inspection in loco of the Middelpos tin shack where Joslin Smith lived with her mother, Kelly Smith, and the latter’s boyfriend, Jacquin “Boeta” Apollis lived.
During the walkabout, Judge Nathan Erasmus, the defense, and two prosecutors took notes as SAP Captain Wesley Lombard gave an account of what transpired the day Joslin went missing.
Armed with a heavy police presence, the trio – who were shackled at their feet – were met with angry residents of the community.
The credibility of state witness Laurentia “Renz” Lombaard’s testimony has been criticised by the defense attorneys in the trial of the missing Saldanha Bay girl, Joslin Smith.
The woman – a former accused who is now a State 204 witness – has been painted as an “unreliable drug addict.”
Lombaard has stated under oath that Joslin’s mother, Kelly Smith, sold her to a sangoma for R20 000.
Kelly, her boyfriend, Jacquin “Boeta” Appollis, and pal Steveno van Rhyn are all on trial over charges of child trafficking.
The trial is taking place under the High Court, sitting at the Saldanha Bay Centre.
STATE WITNESS ACCUSED OF LYING?
On Tuesday, 18 March, state witness Laurentia Lombaard was cross-examined by the defense attorneys of the three accused.
After her initial arrest last year, Lombaard later turned state witness after making a “confession” to police. Charges against her were provisionally withdrawn.
During her cross-examination, Lombaard admitted to using the drug Tik (crystal meth) two or three times a day.
She also claimed that she had decided to turn state witness as she wanted to “speak the truth as I could no longer hide things.”
Laurentia ‘Renz’ Lombaard is accused of ‘lying’ about Joslin Smith’s disappearance during her testimony.
Images via YouTube screenshot: SABC
Lombaard also conceded that her partner, Ayanda Letoni, had sold drugs from their shack. However, she had asked him to stop.
“I asked Ayanda to quit because he was a drinker. Most of the money he made from selling drugs he drank out. If he gets money from the carwash, he also used it to buy wine”, she said.
Lombaard’s claims were labelled “strange” by the defense.
Lombaard previously claimed in her testimony that Kelly Smith had offered her R1000 in “hush money” after she discovered that Joslin would be sold to a sangoma. She added that she had not received the money, even after confronting Kelly about it.
‘BRING JOSLIN BACK’
A day before her cross-examination, Laurentia Lombaard told the court during her testimony that she felt “hurt” about what happened to Joslin.
She said: “I have four children and didn’t know about Boeta [Jacquen Appollis] and Kelly’s plan. Only after eavesdropping did I later overhear their plan to sell the child. I tried to stop Kelly, but she wouldn’t listen.”
She continued: “Whoever has the child, please bring her back… I feel sad and hurt that I was involved in this case. But my lord, what I said here in court is all my truth”.
WILL SHE GET INDEMNITY?
According to the Criminal Procedure Act, a Section 204 witness can receive indemnity from criminal charges, provided that their testimony and evidence help incriminate the accused.
In the case of Joslin Smith, the National Prosecuting Authority offered Lourentia Lombaard witness protection in exchange for her testimony against Kelly Smith, Boeta Appollis, and Steveno van Rhyn.
However, if the court finds that the witness has not testified truthfully, they may face prosecution for perjury and related charges.
In a clip posted on social media, one woman cried: “You pig! Tell the people where your child is! You dirty dog. You’re not a mother; what is wrong with you?”. Another asked: “Where is Joslin? Your child is looking for you, she misses you.”
Watch on TikTok
Others in the crowd chanted: “We want Joslin”.
Another clip saw Kelly wiping away tears as she sat in the back of the police vehicle.
The trial continues on Friday.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE TRIAL THUS FAR?
The trial over missing Joslin Smith kicked off on Monday, 3 March, at the Saldanha Bay multipurpose centre. Here is what has happened thus far…
The three accused have pled not guilty. Judge Erasmus warned them that they could face life imprisonment if found guilty.
Three police officers have given their testimonies. They describe Kelly Smith’s behaviour as concerning. They also claim that Kelly changed her version of events, which also differed from her plea statement read in court.
In her plea explanation, Kelly admitted to taking drugs on the day Joslin disappeared during and after work. She claims she reported the child missing later in the evening after allegedly looking for her herself.
Police claimed that they had accompanied Kelly to look for Joslin and Boeta, who had been tasked with caring for the child. Boeta has a different version of events.
Police also organised a safe space for Kelly Smith to spend the night, away from the angry community. However, Kelly was unhappy as the space was unable to accommodate her partner.
During an inspection of the home a day after Joslin went missing, police discovered a pillowcase and bed sheet with blood stains.
The two male accused have alleged that they were victims of police brutality.
