6 year old Grade 1 pupil Joslin Smith
(The Post News)- The fourth accused suspect Lourentia Lombard had charges against her withdrawn by the sate in the Joslin Smith case.
Lombard and three other suspects made a court appearance in the Vredenburg Magistrates Court on Monday, 21 October, where the state outlined that it was dropping the case against Lombard.
Four suspects including, Joslin’s mother, Racquel Smith (33), boyfriend Jacques Appolis (31), and his friend Steveno Dumaizio Duwayne Van Rhyn (27) are facing charges of trafficking a person with the purpose of exploitation.
The grade 1 pupil went missing on the 19th of February while in the care of her mother’s boyfriend. The boyfriend later returned to the mother but without the little girl, claiming he was not aware of her whereabouts.
The mother then reportedly went to open a missing persons report at a police station on the same day. Since then,the police and community members have been searching for the 6 year old but to no avail.
This is the second accused against whom the state has dropped the charges in the Joslin matter. Initially, an alleged traditional healer, Phumza Sigaqa, was detained for 10 days in connection with the disappearance of Joslin. Her charges were dropped on 13 March.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson, Eric Ntabazalila, the state has decided to make Lombard a state witness in the case.
“The state has assessed all the evidence, and it was decided to use her as a witness,” said Ntabazalila.
On her first appearance after her arrest in March, Lombard turned to the gallery and told the public that she had “told cops everything”.
The other suspects, including Joslin’s pregnant mother, remain behind bars as their case has been postponed to 31 January 2025. The accused are charged with trafficking of a person for exploitation.
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