Joshlin Smith trial: Spotlight on Jacquen Appollis and Stevano van Rhyn's confession statements

CAPE TOWN - The Joshlin Smith trial resumed on Wednesday with the spotlight on confession statements made by Jacquen Appollis and Stevano van Rhyn.

Appollis and van Rhyn claim they were tortured by police to implicate Joshlin's mother, Kelly Smith, as the mastermind behind the child's disappearance.

Appollis, van Rhyn and Smith are charged with kidnapping and human trafficking in the Western Cape High Court sitting in the Saldanha Multi-Purpose Center.

Police detective Captain Philip Seekoei was cross-examined by defense attorney Nobahle Mkabayi, who represents Stevano van Rhyn, on Wednesday.

ALSO READ: Detective explains why he did not believe Van Rhyn was not involved in Joshlin Smith's disappearance

Using video footage of Seekoei taking the accused's confession statement in March last year, Mkabayi questioned Seekoei about whether he could see that van Rhyn was injuredbadly.

Seekoei told the court that, at that stage, he did not notice the extent of van Rhyn's injuries.

Doctors who examined van Rhyn previously testified that the accused had various injuries on his arms and legs.

At the time, van Rhyn told authorities he sustained the injuries after falling off a friend's bakkie a few days before his arrest.