In a dramatic turn of events at the court hearings regarding the disappearance of Joshlin Smith, Detective Captain Wesley Lombard has categorically denied allegations that he instructed others to assault accused Steveno van Rhyn. This assertion arose during cross-examination by Van Rhyn’s legal representative, Nobahle Mkabayi, who claimed her client had accused Lombard of masterminding a violent assault against him while in custody.van Rhyn, who previously detailed harrowing experiences during his detention, stated he was picked up by men who later revealed themselves to be police officers. He alleged these men took him to Jacobsbaai, where he faced severe threats to his life and relentless questioning about Smith’s whereabouts. His testimony included shocking claims of being tortured, hung in the air, suffocated with a plastic bag, beaten, and having his testicles subjected to painful pinching.
In a particularly chilling account, he mentioned a firearm being forced into his mouth while he was threatened with death.When Mkabayi pressed Lombard, asserting that he had been present during the alleged assaults and directed the brutality, Lombard firmly maintained his innocence.
“That is not true,” he retorted, adamantly dismissing the suggestion that he had issued any orders for violence against van Rhyn. Lombard claimed that when he came into contact with all three accused individuals, they showed no visible signs of having been assaulted or tortured, although he noted they appeared anxious ahead of their interviews.
“If they had been assaulted, then I would have seen it,” Lombard stated, highlighting a crucial consideration in the courtroom drama. The detective argued that if van Rhyn had truly been subjected to such torment, it would have been consistently documented in the J88 medical report filled out by a physician. He emphasised the importance of this documentation in confirming any allegations of injury arising from the alleged assault.Despite Mkabayi’s insistence that her client was coerced into silence regarding his injuries, Lombard remained confident that any visible injuries would have been detectable by the examining doctor.
“It would be difficult for a doctor not to see it,” Lombard claimed, countering the narrative presented by the defence.The courtroom atmosphere further shifted when Judge Nathan Erasmus addressed disturbing reports of cyberbullying targeting both state and defence attorneys, suggesting that social media manipulation was obfuscating justice in the high-profile case. Judge Erasmus condemned the smear tactics and harmful misinformation circulating online, specifically citing an incident where commentary on TikTok inaccurately portrayed comments made by Mkabayi and implicated him in the case.
“People have been spreading stories, including of myself, being part of the disappearance of Joshlin,” Judge Erasmus asserted, reinforcing his commitment to maintaining the integrity of the judicial process in the face of such attacks.
“We will not be deterred by these individuals who try to undermine the processes of the court. We shall act without fear or favour,” he declared, underscoring his determination to protect the integrity of the court amid a growing tide of hostility.