Joshlin Smith trial: Defence presents evidence that Appolis may have been tortured in police custody

SALDANHA BAY - An attorney for one of the accused in the Joshlin Smith trial on Friday produced evidence that shows his client may have been tortured while in police custody.

Two of the accused on trial allege that they were tortured to confess they were involved in Joshlin's disappearance.

The little girl's mother, Kelly Smith, Jacquen Appollis and Stevano van Rhyn, are charged with kidnapping and human trafficking in the Western Cape High Court sitting in the Saldanha Bay Multi-Purpose Centre.

Investigating officer, Captain Wesley Lombard, was cross-examined on Friday in a trial within a trial for the court to decide whether confession statements made by the accused would be admissible as evidence during the trial.

It's the State's case that Appollis and Van Rhyn confessed to being involved in Joshlin's disappearance after being interrogated by police on 4 March last year.

The accused insist they were tortured by six men, who were not in police uniform, at the Sea Border offices in Saldanha Bay before making confession statements.

Defence attorney Fanie Harmse, who represents Appollis, presented the court with a medical report, which showed his client had various injuries the day after the interrogation.

Lombard told the court that he had no knowledge of the accused being tortured before being arrested on 6 March last year.