Joslin Smith Latest
latest news & developments
State seeks life sentence for accused in Joslin Smith kidnapping
A human expert trafficking testified in aggravation of sentence on Tuesday, saying the sale of the child was premeditated and there was plenty of time to stop it
Joslin Smith: Defence accuses cop of trying to exploit accused’s weaknesses to gain confession
Sergeant Dawid Fortuin took advantage of Steveno van Rhyn’s ‘youth and vulnerability’, according to attorney Nobahle Mkabayi
No standing order to record witness statements, court hears in Joslin Smith kidnapping trial
Sergeant Dawid Fortuin was being cross-examined by attorney Nobahle Mkabayi, acting for accused two, Steveno van Rhyn
Medical examiner refutes accused’s claims of abuse in Joslin Smith trial
Two men accused, alongside the child’s mother, of kidnapping and trafficking her last year have alleged being abused into confessing to information relating to her disappearance
Denials of police torture dominate week five of Joslin Smith kidnapping trial
A female sergeant has been accused of taking part in the alleged torture of accused two, but senior officers denied any knowledge or involvement
Another senior officer denies torture allegations in Joslin Smith kidnapping trial
Brigadier Leon Hanana told the court he had not personally interviewed the suspects and had received no reports of misconduct
Judge condemns cyberbullying as Joslin Smith kidnapping trial enters fifth week
Judge Nathan Erasmus said online harassment threatened trust in South Africa’s justice system and caused ‘suspicion’
Star witness continues to unravel on the stand in Joslin Smith trial
Lourentia Lombaard irks the judge with her ‘assumptions’, while Kelly Smith is again portrayed as a callous mother
Star witness in Joslin Smith case says silence was driven by fear, drugs and hush money
Lourentia Lombaard admitted she repeatedly withheld information from police about the alleged sale of the child, blaming fear, anger, drug use and a promised R1 000 payment
Joslin Smith: State witness again falls ill during cross-examination drama
Judge Nathan Erasmus said this was not the first time Lorentia Lombaard became unwell ‘when it came to crunch time’
Joslin Smith: State’s star witness breaks down as judge questions inconsistencies
Judge Nathan Erasmus had earlier cautioned Lourentia Lombaard that her testimony would determine her credibility
Joslin Smith was wanted by sangoma for her ‘eyes and skin’
State witness Lourentia Lombaard continued her testimony on Monday, sharing chilling details in the kidnapping and human trafficking trial
Kelly Smith told teacher Joslin was kidnapped by Nigerians
A ‘Nigerian man’ allegedly told Smith that the child was in a container, on a boat, heading for West Africa, the court heard
Kelly Smith brought to tears during former employer’s testimony
The mother of Joslin wept as her former employer, Carlyn Zeegers, described her as a ‘good mother’ in the kidnapping and human trafficking trial