Joslin Smith
latest news & developments
Three accused are going to jail but Joslin’s fate remains unknown
The judge has handed down sentences — but a little girl is still missing and a community’s anguish remains raw
Kelly Smith’s mother uses victim impact statement to confront daughter about parenting, indifference
Amanda Daniels said that Smith, who was convicted earlier this month, had ripped the family apart and still refused to take responsibility for her actions
Joslin Smith: Accused two says police did not treat him with ‘respect and dignity’
Steveno van Rhyn detailed alleged police torture as the trial-within-a-trial continued in the Western Cape high court
Cop ‘asked me if I know Jesus’ — accused one in Joslin Smith kidnapping takes the stand
Jacquen ‘Boeta’ Appollis told the Western Cape high court which parts of his allegedly coerced confession were true and which were false
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: Could the state’s ‘unsophisticated’ witness sink its case?
Lourentia Lombaard, the accused-turned-state-witness in the kidnapping and trafficking trial, has repeatedly lied to police
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