At the Western Cape High Court, the unfolding saga surrounding the disappearance of six-year-old Joshlin Smith took another dramatic turn on Monday. The court, temporarily relocated to the White City Multipurpose Centre in Saldanha Bay, heard disturbingly detailed testimonies concerning the alleged confessions of two of the accused in the high-profile case that has gripped the nation.
Warrant Officer Heinrich Schmidlin opened the proceedings with critical disclosures about Jacquen “Boeta” Appollis, the boyfriend of Joshlin’s mother, Racquel “Kelly” Smith. Schmidlin testified that he was instructed to escort Appollis for a medical examination following his confession on March 5, just weeks after the girl vanished from her Middelpos home on February 19. The context of these medical examinations added weight to the testimonies, as Appollis arrived injured, sparking questions about the nature of those injuries.
“I was requested to accompany Jacquen Appollis to hospital at about 8 am,” Schmidlin recalled, noting the bruises and injuries to Appollis’ left eye, knee and right foot. The escort proceeded to Vredenburg Hospital, where Appollis underwent an X-ray, before being returned to Sea Border offices. The testifying warrant officer confirmed the presence of injuries sustained during Appollis’s arrest, as highlighted by his defence attorney, Fanie Harmse, during cross-examination.
As the case progressed, Sergeant Dawid Johannes Fortuin, a seasoned officer from the Organised Crime Unit, provided further details about the investigation. He described a tense scene at the White City Multipurpose Centre earlier that month, where over 300 officers gathered to strategise a search operation for the missing child. This operation would soon lead to the questioning of Appollis and Steveno “Steffie” van Rhyn, another accused linked to the case.
Fortuin’s accounts painted a picture of disarray and concern amongst law enforcement regarding the accused’s conflicting statements. According to Fortuin, while Appollis claimed to have seen Joshlin leaving their home around 2 pm on February 19, van Rhyn vehemently denied any knowledge of children being present that day. “What was strange to me,” Fortuin commented, “was that community members stated this was the first time they noticed Appollis and van Rhyn not assisting in the search for Joshlin after her disappearance.” The inconsistencies in their narratives have raised further suspicions.
The court also heard testimonies about interactions between the accused and law enforcement after the fact. In the face of mounting pressure from Fortuin, both Appollis and van Rhyn distanced themselves from any involvement in Joshlin’s disappearance, with Appollis even suggesting to the officer to speak with Smith for more clarity on the events leading up to the tragedy.
As the proceedings continue, the deepening mystery surrounding Joshlin’s case looms large. With each piece of evidence and each witness that takes the stand, the narrative grows more intricate, arousing a potent mix of concern and anticipation within the community and beyond. The next testimony from Fortuin is eagerly awaited, as investigators and families alike seek the truth behind this harrowing incident.
The trial continues