Drugs and hair found in Leach’s car during police search

On searching Reinhardt Leach’s car in October 2021, the police found dagga, tik and strands of hair they suspected could be that of his girlfriend, Vicki Terblanche. 

This was part of the photographic evidence discussed in the Gqeberha high court on Tuesday where Leach is standing trial for Vicki’s murder, which he allegedly orchestrated with her estranged husband, Arnold Terblanche.

While Leach had already pleaded guilty to several charges, including the possession of drugs and conspiracy to commit murder, he still faces charges of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, as well as unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Testifying in court, forensic photographer with the police’s crimes scene management unit, Captain Sherwin Walsh, shed light on how evidence was gathered at the separate scenes in the hours after Vicki’s body was discovered in a shallow grave in Greenbushes on the outskirts of Gqeberha.

He said that before Vicki’s body was taken to the mortuary at the Mount Road police station for a postmortem examination, her hands were covered with specialised bags to preserve any evidence that could have been under her fingernails.

He was also present at her home at Westview Village in Mill Park, where sections of the house were canvassed with forensic lighting equipment to check for any bodily fluids.

Finally, he testified about searching Leach’s car while it was parked at the Mount Road police station. 

He said they found hair in the boot of the car which they put in an evidence bag to determine whether it belonged to the victim.

In a storage compartment in the driver’s seat door, they found four packets containing dagga, while in the front passenger side door they found a “white crystallised substance” which Walsh said resembled tik.

State advocate Marius Stander pointed out that the drugs found in the car during the search pertained to the charges on which Leach had already admitted guilt.

The search of the vehicle took place while Leach was at the police station to file a missing-person report for Vicki.

Unbeknown to Leach, the police investigation was already under way and certain admissions by his co-accused had already led the police to the site where Vicki’s body was discovered.

The state alleges that Terblanche and Leach conspired to kill Vicki as Terblanche and his estranged wife were going through an acrimonious divorce and custody battle over their minor son.

Vicki was allegedly drugged before Leach smothered her with a pillow and, along with his former co-accused Dylan Cullis and Mario de Ridder, made arrangements to dispose of her body.

Cullis has since pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment for his role in the murder plot, while De Ridder turned state witness.

Terblanche was separated from the trial against Leach and will return to court in October.

The Herald