Joshlin Smith trial: State prosecutors expected to wrap up case against accused

SALDANHA BAY - State prosecutors in the Joshlin Smith trial are expected to wrap up their case against the accused on Wednesday.

Kelly Smith, Jacquen Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn are charged with kidnapping and human trafficking after Joshlin went missing in February last year.

Investigating officer, Captain Wesley Lombard, testified about how his team are still following up leads to find Joshlin.

The little girl, who was six years old at the time, went missing from her Middelpos home in Saldanha in February last year.

Lombard also told the court how police could find no evidence to prosecute former accused, Phumza Sigaqa, who is also known as Maka Lima.

Appollis and Van Rhyn told police that Joshlin's mother, Kelly Smith, instructed them to take the child to Sigaqa on the day she went missing.

State prosecutor Zelda Swanepoel later read Van Rhyn's confession statement into the court record.

"Now you say indeed you were there by Maka Lima to go ask for your portion after Boeta and I left Joshlin there with her."

A police captain will take the stand on Wednesday to explain why Sigaqa will not be testifying in the trial.