GQEBERHA – The murder trial of businessman Arnold Terblanche was postponed until next Monday after his legal team requested that photographic evidence be converted to digital albums for better judicial review during proceedings.
The businessman briefly appeared today at the Gqeberha High Court.
Terblanche’s legal representative, Peter Dauberman, stated they had acquired additional images of the apartment where Reinhardt Leach resided around the time of Vicki Terblanche’s death in 2021.
Dauberman explained that images captured by police officers of the apartment were not up to standard and required conversion to digital format to allow the judge better visibility.
“This conversion would assist the judge to have a better idea and make better findings,” he stated.
READ MORE HERE: Terblanche trial gains momentum as state witnesses take stand
Terblanche faces a potential life sentence, plus an additional 15 years, for his alleged involvement in the murder of his estranged wife, Vicki Terblanche.
Vicki was murdered on 18 October 2021, and found buried in a shallow grave in Greenbushes, Gqeberha, after being given an overdose of drugs and suffocated with a pillow.
On 19 October 2021, Leach and accomplices transported her body in a car and considered various disposal methods, including setting it alight or burying it. After allegedly consulting Arnold, who refused to help, they buried the body in a shallow grave in Greenbushes.
Vicki’s boyfriend at the time, Leach, was convicted and sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment last year for his involvement. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, defeating the ends of justice, and possession of drugs.
It is alleged that Arnold had instructed Leach on 12 October to murder Vicki to gain custody of their child. Leach was reportedly involved in criminal activities like abalone poaching and drug use.
Vicki and Arnold were married in 2006 and lived in the upmarket Westview Villas housing complex in Gqeberha until their divorce proceedings began in December 2020.
The matter has been remanded until Monday, 16 March for continuation of the trial.
ALSO READ: Terblanche murder trial delayed over judge recusal concerns
