The trial of Reinhardt Leach, accused of murdering Gqeberha mother Vicki Terblanche, officially got under way in the city’s high court on Monday.
Proceedings started with state advocate Marius Stander outlining the prosecution’s case and how it intends to use Leach’s trial as a prequel to proving Bay businessman Arnold Terblanche used Leach to have his estranged wife murdered.
On Monday, Stander called Constable Nontutuzelo Tinto to the stand as the first witness in the state’s case.
She told the court she had been on duty at the Mount Road police station’s community service centre and had taken Leach’s statement when he reported Vicki as missing.
She read out the statement in which Leach told her he had left Vicki’s home on October 20 after they had an argument, and when he returned the next day she had been missing.
He also told the police she used various drugs and would often “see things I cannot”, presumably as a side-effect of the drugs.
Tinto said Leach had not had a picture of Vicki on hand, but had returned later the same day with a picture, which had been attached to his statement and filed with the missing person report.
Until last week, Leach and Terblanche’s cases had been combined, but had to be split after Leach entered a plea of guilty at the start of their trial.
The state accepted his plea partially, but rejected his version of events regarding the night Vicki was killed.
He now faces charges of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances and the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The state alleges that Terblanche and his wife were going through an acrimonious divorce and custody battle over their minor son, and that Terblanche approached Leach, who was dating Vicki at the time, to kill her.
In October 2021, Leach allegedly hatched a plan to acquire firearms from Cape Town, as well as hitmen, to kill Vicki.
However, the plan changed on more than one occasion, and it was eventually decided they would drug her and then dispose of her body.
It is alleged that after feeding her copious amounts of drugs, Leach placed a pillow over Vicki’s head and suffocated her before burying her body in a shallow grave in Greenbushes.
He reported her as missing the next day.
His co-accused, Dylan Cullis, later led the police to Vicki’s body. He is serving an 18-year sentence after pleading guilty to his role in the murder.
Another co-accused, Mario de Ridder, has turned state witness.
The trial continues.
The Herald
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.