Phumza Sigaqa

The court set a timeline for sentencing in the Joshlin Smith trial, with victim impact statements and expert evidence to be presented later this month.

Day 35 of the Joshlin Smith trial concluded closing arguments from all defence lawyers and the State, with Judge Erasmus confirming judgment will be handed down on Friday.

Day 34 of the Joshlin Smith trial saw the State close its case with detailed arguments supporting convictions for human trafficking and kidnapping, while Jacquen Appollis’s lawyer launched a strained attack on the credibility of key witness Lourentia Lombaard.

Day 33 of the Joshlin Smith trial featured video evidence from social media, Phumza Sigaqa’s withdrawal as a state witness, and the defence officially closing its case without presenting any witnesses.

Day 32 of the Joshlin Smith trial featured the continuation of DNA-related testimony from Captain Wesley Lombard, the formal withdrawal of Phumza Sigaqa as a state witness, and the admission of key warning statements and confession transcripts into evidence.

Day 30 of the Joshlin Smith trial saw continued cross-examination of Steveno van Rhyn, with the state and judge scrutinising his version of alleged police torture and forced confession.

Day 29 of the Joshlin Smith trial saw Jacquen Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn offer starkly different accounts of police abuse and confession fabrication during their testimony in the trial-within-a-trial.

Day 28 of the Joshlin Smith trial saw Jacquen Appollis take the stand to challenge his alleged confession, but under cross-examination, inconsistencies in his testimony were exposed by the State and the presiding judge.

Day 27 of the Joshlin Smith trial featured the final cross-examination of Captain Philip Seekoei and renewed focus on Kelly Smith’s medical condition, with the trial-within-a-trial nearing its end.

Day 26 of the Joshlin Smith trial focused on the cross-examination of Sgt Fortuin and Captain Seekoei, with the defence challenging the legitimacy of Steveno van Rhyn’s alleged confession.

Day 25 of the Joshlin Smith trial focused on the cross-examination of Sgt Fortuin, with defence probing procedural flaws and police conduct during the alleged confessions of Jacquen Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn.

Day 23 of the Joshlin Smith trial focused on video recordings of alleged confessions by Jacquen Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn, exposing disturbing claims about Joshlin’s disappearance and Kelly Smith’s alleged role.