Defence grills detective in Joshlin Smith Case

TENSIONS rose in the Western Cape High Court yesterday as the defence continued to question a police detective over the handling of an interview with accused Steveno van Rhyn in the aftermath of 6-year-old Joshlin Smiths disappearance.

- MANDILAKHE TSHWETE

The Saldanha Bay girl went missing from her Middelpos home on February 19, 2024. Her mom Racquel “Kelly” Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen “Boeta” Appollis, and Van Rhyn were arrested and charged with kidnapping and human trafficking.

Sergeant Dawid Johannes Fortuin yesterday admitted that his top priority was locating the missing child.

"My priority was to find Joshlin," he said.

"I asked him if he knew about Joshlin's whereabouts."

Van Rhyn's lawyer, Nobahle Mkabayi, noted that her client had answered that he did not know where the child was. Fortuin claimed he still found the response unconvincing.

"There were discrepancies, and I didn't think he was being honest," he said.

But Mkabayi challenged him directly: "What discrepancies? You told us he said he didn't know where Joshlin was."