Joshlin Smith: Detective to be cross-examined over confession statements from 2 accused
Police detective, Captain Philip Seekoei, is set to be cross-examined by defence attorney Nobahle Mkabayi on Wednesday.
Kelly Smith (right), Jaquen Appollis and Stevano van Rhyn in the Western Cape High Court sitting in the Saldanha Bay Multi-Purpose Centre on 8 April 2025. Picture: Kayleen Morgan/EWN
SALDANHA BAY - The Joshlin Smith trial will resume on Wednesday with the spotlight on confession statements made by Jacquen Appollis and Stevano van Rhyn.
Appollis and Van Rhyn claim they were tortured by police, who also told them to implicate Joshlin's mother, Kelly Smith, as the mastermind behind the child's disappearance.
Appollis, Van Rhyn and Smith are charged with kidnapping and human trafficking in the Western Cape High Court sitting in the Saldanha Multi-Purpose Centre.
Police detective, Captain Philip Seekoei, is set to be cross-examined by defence attorney Nobahle Mkabayi on Wednesday.
Last week, Seekoei testified about taking Van Rhyn's confession in March last year.
Mkabayi asked the court for time to view a video of the confession before cross-examining Seekoei.
Van Rhyn and Appollis claim they were tortured by police to confess that Smith told them to leave Joshlin with a woman in Middelpos known as "Maka Lima".
The woman, Phumza Sigaqa, was a former accused in the matter who was released after police found no evidence to prove she kidnapped Joshlin.