Van Rhyn maintains he admitted involvement in Joshlin Smith's disappearance because of police threats

CAPE TOWN - Accused number two in the Joshlin Smith trial, Stevano van Rhyn maintains he only admitted to being involved in the child's disappearance because he was threatened by police.

Legal teams are arguing for the court to decide whether confession statements made by Van Rhyn and Jacquen Appollis can be used as evidence in the trial.

Van Rhyn, Appollis and Joshlin's mother, Kelly Smith, face charges of kidnapping and human trafficking for the child's disappearance.

Stevano van Rhyn has detailed how he ended up admitting to being involved in Joshlin Smith's disappearance after allegedly being tortured by police officers.

Van Rhyn told the court he was repeatedly beaten to admit that he and co-accused, Appollis, took Joshlin to a woman in Middelpos known as "Maka Lima".

"I told them it's not like that. I bear no knowledge of that, and they hit... until the point I said, I walked with him."

The accused said the torture stopped after he admitted his role in Joshlin's disappearance.

Judge Nathan Erasmus previously said he wanted to conclude the trial within a trial this week.

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