Investigator in Joshlin Smith trial to face questions over Van Rhyn's confession statement
State witness, Captain Wesley Lombard, will be questioned during a trial within a trial to decide whether confession statements made by the accused can be used as evidence in court.
Investigating officer Captain Wesley Lombard, who is testifying against the accused in the Joshlin Smith trial. Picture: Carlo Petersen/Eyewitness News
SALDANHA BAY - The investigating officer in the Joshlin Smith case will take the stand in the trial again on Tuesday.
State witness, Captain Wesley Lombard, will be questioned during a trial within a trial to decide whether confession statements made by the accused can be used as evidence in court.
Defence attorneys argue that the confession statements cannot be used as evidence because the accused were allegedly tortured to make the confessions.
Captain Lombard has already told the court how co-accused Stevano van Rhyn became a person of interest to police after Joshlin went missing.
Defence attorney Nobahle Mkabayi, who represents Van Rhyn, questioned Lombard about why he took her client into custody.
Mkabayi told the court that the initial investigating officer decided that Van Rhyn was not a person of interest after interviewing him.
Lombard said that he became suspicious about Van Rhyn because in his statement to police, he mentioned that Joshlin was not home throughout the day she went missing.
However, in Appollis' statement, he places Van Rhyn at the shack while Joshlin was still there.
The detective said that he asked his team to bring Van Rhyn in for questioning because it seemed as though he was lying about not seeing Joshlin on the day she disappeared.
Mkabayi is set to continue questioning Lombard on Tuesday as the trial within a trial continues.