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Prosecutor Refutes Claims of Torture in High-Profile Child Disappearance Case
State Prosecutor Zelda Swanepoel dismissed allegations of assault and torture by police from two accused men in the case of missing six-year-old Joshlin Smith. Steveno ‘Steffie’ Van Rhyn and Jacquen ‘Boeta’ Appollis claimed they were physically abused during their police interrogations. Swanepoel, however, stated that their injuries could not have been inflicted by law enforcement.
During the trial, Van Rhyn and Appollis testified that police used physical force and threats to coerce them into implicating themselves and others in the disappearance of Joshlin, who went missing from her Saldanha Bay home on February 19, 2024. The accused were arrested on March 5, 2024, along with Joshlin’s mother, Racquel ‘Kelly’ Smith, and all three denied charges of kidnapping and human trafficking.
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Van Rhyn and Appollis claimed they were subjected to torture, including being handcuffed and hung with an aluminum rod, while being pressured to confess and implicate a woman living near Appollis’ home. Van Rhyn alleged that while hitchhiking, he was picked up by plainclothes officers who transported him to Jacobsbaai beach. There, he was allegedly assaulted before being taken to the Sea Border Police Unit offices in Saldanha.
However, Swanepoel contested the plausibility of these claims, stating that the injuries described by the accused could not have been caused by the police. She also questioned the location of the alleged assault, noting that Van Rhyn could not provide specific details about the beach where the incident took place. Swanepoel bluntly declared, “It is impossible that you were injured by the police.”
Further complicating matters, Appollis had previously testified that he was relieved when the police removed the rod and handcuffs just before placing them on Van Rhyn. However, Van Rhyn insisted that he was already handcuffed when he entered the room and witnessed his friend in the same position he would soon endure.
As the cross-examination continued, Judge Nathan Erasmus intervened, expressing concern over Van Rhyn’s understanding of the legal process, given his limited education. The judge encouraged Swanepoel to simplify her questioning to avoid any confusion. “Let’s rather simplify and ask short questions,” he advised.
Judge Erasmus also indicated that he would try to complete the trial-within-a-trial by the end of the day, a decision that would have significant implications for the defense and prosecution. He reminded the accused of the importance of engaging with their legal representatives as the case progressed.
The trial-within-a-trial continues as the court works to determine whether the confessions given by the accused were made freely and voluntarily.
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Sourced:IOL
Picture: Gallo Images/Brenton Geach
