GQEBERHA – The murder trial of Gqeberha businessman Arnold Terblanche was postponed until tomorrow after concerns arose during court proceedings that presiding Judge Nyameko Gqamana may have been involved in Arnold and Vicki’s divorce proceedings. The judge wants to ensure he did not see any documentation involving their divorce during 2020-2021.
Vicki Terblanche had filed for divorce from Arnold in December 2020. During the divorce proceedings, Vicki had been seeking R35 000 per month in maintenance and a significant financial settlement.
Almost a year later, Vicki was brutally murdered on 18 October 2021 and was found buried in a shallow grave in Greenbushes, Gqeberha, after being given an overdose of drugs and suffocated with a pillow.
According to court documents, Reinhardt Leach, who had been romantically involved with Vicki, conspired with her estranged husband Arnold to kill her.
On the day of Vicki’s death, Leach and his accomplices drugged Vicki by mixing a large quantity of “perkies” with a fizzy drink. Afterward, Leach suffocated her with a pillow. The crime scene was staged to resemble a drug overdose, with drugs and crushed pills placed around the location.
READ MORE HERE: Gqeberha businessman Arnold Terblanche faces life imprisonment in wife’s murder trial
Following the killing, Vicki’s personal items were taken. On 19 October 2021, her body was moved in a car as the suspects debated how to dispose of it, considering options such as burning it or burying it. After reportedly approaching Arnold, who declined to assist, they ultimately buried her in a shallow grave in Greenbushes.
Last year, Leach was sentenced to an effective 25 years’ imprisonment after pleading 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.
Since the Terblanches’ divorce proceedings were ongoing during 2020-2021, Judge Gqamana must establish whether he reviewed any divorce-related documentation or had prior involvement in their case.
Both the State and defence agreed to postpone proceedings until tomorrow, 11 March, while the judge investigates his potential prior involvement.
Terblanche faces six charges related to the Gqeberha mother’s death: conspiracy to commit murder (Count 1), murder (Count 2), robbery (Count 3), defeating or obstructing the course of justice (Count 4), conspiracy to commit murder (Count 5), and conspiracy to defeat the ends of justice (Count 6).
State prosecutor Marius Stander stated that Terblanche faces a minimum of life imprisonment for the murder charge and a minimum of 15 years’ imprisonment for the robbery charge, due to aggravating circumstances including the infliction of grievous bodily harm.
Terblanche pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Additionally, the indictment reveals that Terblanche allegedly conspired with Zephton Pretorius-Zweni and others to kill Dylan Cullis, Reinhardt Leach, and Mario De Ridder during March to July 2022.
