Main trial into Joshlin Smith's disappearance to resume
The main trial was put on ice recently to test the amicability of confession statements by co-accused, Jacquen Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn, who claimed they had been tortured by police into implicating themselves in Joshlin's 2024 kidnapping.
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 main trial into the disappearance of Joshlin Smith is set to resume on Tuesday with the cross-examination of the investigating officer in the case.
The main trial was put on ice recently to test the amicability of confession statements by co-accused, Jacquen Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn, who claimed they had been tortured by police into implicating themselves in Joshlin's 2024 kidnapping.
Joshlin's mother, Kelly Smith, Appollis and Van Rhyn are charged with kidnapping and human trafficking in the Western Cape High Court sitting in the Saldanha Bay Multi-purpose Centre.
An anti-kidnapping unit detective is expected to take the stand to be questioned about his investigation into the little girl's disappearance.
Defence attorney Nobahle Mkabayi, who represents Van Rhyn, is set to cross-examine State witness Captain Wesley Lombard about why he arrested her client.
Lombard previously told the court that when he took over the investigation a week after Joshlin went missing, he became suspicious about Van Rhyn's initial statement to police.
Van Rhyn had claimed that Joshlin was not home when he visited co-accused Appollis on the day the child disappeared.
Lombard told the court that Appollis had given a conflicting account.
Judge Nathan Erasmus ruled that confession statements by Appollis and Van Rhyn could now be used as evidence in the main trial.