Judge Cautions Defence Counsel Against Time Wasting Questions

The presiding Judge in the Joshlin Smith kidnapping and human trafficking trial sitting in the Western Cape High Court in Saldanha Bay on the Cape West Coast, Justice Nathan Erasmus, has cautioned the defence counsel against asking questions that he may disallow for wasting the courts time.

Advocate Nobahle Mkabayi has been cross-examining Captain Philip Seekoei who took the statement of the accused.

A trial within a trial to determine the admissibility of confessions of accused Jacquen Appollis and Stevano van Rhyns statements is underway.

Mkabayi has since yesterday been grilling Seekoei about her client closing his eyes or sleeping during the taking of the statement.

Judge Erasmus: Now Ms Mkabayi, you put it to the witness that during that fifty-five seconds the accused had lifted his hand in front of his face I didnt see it.