Detective: Key events leading to arrests

THE detective investigating the disappearance of Joshlin Smith had to pause his evidence as the rest will be part of the trial in the matter.

- MANDILAKHE TSHWETE

Captain Western Lombard detailed the events leading up to the arrest of the six-year-old’s mother Racquel “Kelly” Smith, boyfriend Jacquen “Boeta” Appollis, and friend Steveno “Steffie” van Rhyn.

Testifying at the Western Cape High Court sitting in the White City Multip urpose Centre, Diazville, Saldanha Bay, he said that on learning about the three accused, he called them to their Sea Border offices for an interview.

This took place on March 4, 2024, weeks after Joshlin went missing on February 19 from her Middelpos home.

Lombard said on the day, a large-scale search operation was conducted involving 380 members, including uniformed police, detectives from multiple stations, the FCS unit, AGU, and City of Cape Town officials. The search lasted the entire day but yielded no significant findings.

That evening, plans were made to interview Kelly, Boeta and Steveno. At that stage, another suspect, Laurentia “Renz” Lombard had already left Langebaan for Cape Town.

“The decision was made to separate the three individuals and conduct interviews. Steveno’s statement had already been taken, but he would be questioned again later.”