KEY POINTS
- The State plans to finish its presentation in the Joshlin Smith trial during afternoon hours on Wednesday.
- The criminal charges against Phumza Sigaqa received no prosecution due to weak evidence so she will not appear in court.
- Colonel Riaan Morris plans to describe Sigaqa’s significance to the court regarding her involvement in this matter.
The State plans to finalize its case presentation during the missing Joshlin Smith trial on Wednesday. The court heard on Tuesday that the State predicted its evidence presentation would finish by afternoon while Colonel Riaan Morris would testify.
During court proceedings Morris will provide the reason why previous defendant Phumza Sigaqa’s involvement mattered in this case. Sigaqa originally went to police custody together with Jacquen ‘Boeta’ Appollis, Steveno ‘Steffie’ van Rhyn and Kelly Smith when they received charges for kidnapping and human trafficking offenses. On March 13 of 2024 all court charges were officially dismissed against Sigaqa.
Insufficient evidence led to withdrawal of charges against Sigaqa
During his testimony on Tuesday Captain Wesley Lombard confirmed the dismissed court proceedings involving Sigaqa because of absent sufficient evidence. Lombard testified that Sigaqa’s statement differed widely from the statements made by Steveno and Boeta while no independent proof supported these witnesses’ claims. Searches at Sigaqa’s residence uncovered no evidence that allowed them to pursue criminal charges against him.
The State first decided to call Sigaqa as a witness before reversing this plan which made her testimony irrelevant. Colonel Riaan Morris will present to the court the reasons why Sigaqa was withdrawn from the case.
Next steps in the Joshlin Smith trial
The defense will proceed with its presentation to Judge Nathan Erasmus after the State finishes its part. A court session delay will occur as authorities wait to hear from Kelly Smith who is the mother of accused Joshlin Smith in this case.
