State drops charges against accused in Joslin Smith case
The Joslin Smith case has been transferred to the Western Cape High Court for a pre-trial hearing. Here’s the latest..
The state has dropped charges against accused four Laurentia Lombaard in relation to the disappearance of then-six-year-old Joslin Smith.
STATE DROPS CHARGES AGAINST LAURENTIA LOMBAARD IN JOSLIN SMITH DISAPPEARANCE CASE
The South African previously reported that the young girl went missing from her home in Diazville, Saldanha Bay, on 19 February. At the time, she was under the care of her mother’s boyfriend.
Lombaard was arrested alongside Joslin’s mother, Chantel Kelly Smith, her stepfather, Jacquin “Boeta” Appollis, and close friend Steveno van Rhyn. The four faced charges of kidnapping and human trafficking.
MATTER MOVES TO HIGH COURT
Initially, the case was supposed to move to the Western Cape High Court in September, however, in the last court appearance, the NPA revealed that there was new evidence that needed to be analysed and that the investigation was at a sensitive stage.
The matter will return to court on 31 January 2025 for a pre-trial conference.
Little Joslin would have reportedly turned seven on Sunday, 20 October.
WOMAN ACCUSED OF BUYING MISSING CHILD FOR MUTI ALSO SET FREE
Lombaard is the second accused whom the state has dropped charges against.
In March, Phumza Sigaqa – the woman branded a sangoma by the public was forced into hiding after charges against her were dropped amid the disappearance of Joslin Smith.
The Saldanha Bay resident was falsely accused of buying Joslin for the purposes of muti.
DO YOU STILL HAVE HOPE THAT JOSLIN SMITH COULD BE FOUND ALIVE?
Let us know by clicking on the comment tab below this article or by emailing info@thesouthafrican.com or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. You can also follow @TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest news.