Joshlin Smith trial: Legal teams argue admissibility of accused's confession
Accused number Jacquen Appollis claims he was tortured before police detectives told him what to say in the statement.
Jacquen Appollis, accused number one in the Joshlin Smith trial, testified at the Western Cape High Court sitting in the Saldanha Multi-Purpose Centre on 11 April 2025. Picture: Kayleen Morgan/EWN
CAPE TOWN - An accused in the Joshlin Smith trial faced tough questions on Tuesday about certain details he added to the confession statement he made to police.
Accused number one Jacquen Appollis claims he was tortured before police detectives told him what to say in the statement.
Legal teams are arguing for the court to decide whether the confession statement can be used as evidence against the accused.
Appollis, Stevano van Rhyn and Joshlin's mother, Kelly Smith, are on trial for the child's disappearance.
Judge Nathan Erasmus questioned Appollis about why he added certain details to his confession statement.
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- Joshlin Smith trial: Appollis details alleged torture during interrogation
Appollis claims police detectives gave him specific instructions about what to include in the statement.
The accused claims he was told to implicate himself, van Rhyn, Smith and a woman in Middelpos known as "Maka Lima" for Joshlin's disappearance.
Erasmus questioned Appollis about the extra details in his confession statement.
"Why did you find it necessary to add all those details on the fly?"
Replied the defence: "I had to make it sounds like a story, my lord."
State prosecutor Aradanha Heeramun told Appollis the fact that he mentions the extra details makes it sound like the truth.