Charges against suspects in the Joslin Smith case are dropped by the state
The Joslin Smith case has been moved to the Western Cape High Court for a pre-trial hearing. Here are the latest updates.
The state has dismissed charges against Laurentia Lombaard, one of the four accused, in connection with the disappearance of 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.
The four have made numerous appearances at the Vredenburg Magistrate’s Court and also abandoned their bail applications.
On Monday, 21 October, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirmed that the charges against Lombaard have been dropped.
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.