Detective investigating Joshlin Smith's disappearance tells court he suspected trio of lying

CAPE TOWN - A detective investigating the case of missing six-year-old Joshlin Smith says after a week of interviewing the child's mother, Kelly Smith, and her co-accused, he could tell they were being dishonest.

Smith, Jacquen Appollis, and Stevano van Rhyn face charges of kidnapping and human trafficking related to Joshlin's disappearance.

The state's fourth witness is testifying in the trial being held in the Western Cape High Court, sitting at the Saldanha multi-purpose centre.

Child Protection Unit detective, Sergeant Meyer Milstein told the court on Monday he followed up various leads after Smith vanished.  

But his team's efforts yielded no results.

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Milstein mentioned three possible sightings, including one in Malmesbury, which all proved to be false alarms.

The detective said a farmer near Middelpos also indicated, two days after Joshlin disappeared, two people jumped his fence carrying spades.

Milstein said a helicopter and extra resources were deployed to the area, but they found no sign of Joshlin.

He told the court after interviewing van Rhyn, the accused told him he suspected Joshlin was sold for muti.

Milstein said he followed up van Rhyn's theory, which again yielded no results.

The detective told the court after questioning the trio, it became clear they were lying.