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Officer denies hearing screams or seeing assault in Joshlin Smith trial
Sergeant Dawid Johannes Fortuin testified in the Western Cape High Court that he neither heard any screams nor witnessed any form of assault during police interviews with the two male suspects in the disappearance of six-year-old Joshlin Smith.
The trial is currently in its “trial within a trial” phase, held at the White City Multipurpose Centre in Diazville, Saldanha Bay. This stage focuses on claims by Jacquen “Boeta” Appollis and Steveno “Steffie” van Rhyn, who allege their confessions were obtained through police assault and torture. Joshlin’s mother, Racquel “Kelly” Smith, also an accused in the case, has not made such claims.
Appollis and van Rhyn were arrested on 5 March 2024, two weeks after Joshlin was reported missing from her Middelpos home on 19 February. All three accused face charges of kidnapping and human trafficking, to which they have pleaded guilty.
Also Read: Joshlin Smith Case: Kelly Smith’s Sudden Illness Disrupts Trial
Fortuin recalled a moment during the investigation when the name of a local woman known as “Maka Lima” surfaced. “I was told she knew something about the child, so I was asked to check with Kelly,” he said.
Before locating Captain Wesley Lombard, Fortuin questioned Appollis about Maka Lima. “His expression changed immediately, he looked worried,” Fortuin testified. Appollis confirmed he knew her and said she lived in the squatter camp, suggesting that Kelly could confirm more.
Lombard later entered the office and separately questioned van Rhyn and Appollis, after informing them of their rights. Both men told him to ask Kelly and Maka Lima about Joshlin’s disappearance.
Following this lead, officers visited Maka Lima’s home and brought her and her family to the Sea Border offices for questioning.
Fortuin noted seeing Appollis moved to a different room just before Maka Lima was brought into the boardroom. He did not enter the room where Lima was questioned, saying he was exhausted from working since early morning.
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Later, Fortuin heard Kelly shouting from a distance: “Boeta, why are you doing this to me?”—a moment he remembered clearly. The accused men were then placed in separate vehicles and taken to the FCS (Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences) offices. Fortuin said they were not handcuffed and showed no visible signs of mistreatment.
“If anything like that had happened, I would have known. It’s also my duty to report such incidents to my seniors,” he said.
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Sourced:IOL
Picture: Daily Maverick
