GQEBERHA – Dylan Cullis suffered a panic attack before confessing to the murder of Vicki Terblanche, investigating officer Sergeant Francois Fillies testified at the Gqeberha High Court today.
Cullis was sentenced to 18 years in prison after confessing his involvement through a plea statement in March 2023. His co-accused, Reinhardt Leach (35), Vicki’s boyfriend at the time, received an effective 25-year sentence after pleading guilty to multiple charges including conspiracy to commit murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, defeating the ends of justice, and possession of drugs.
Arnold Terblanche, Vicki’s estranged husband, is facing life imprisonment for allegedly orchestrating her murder. He has pleaded not guilty to all six charges.
Vicki was found dead in a shallow grave in Greenbushes on 23 October 2021. As previously reported, Vicki was given a large quantity of drugs and then suffocated by her boyfriend at the time, Reinhardt Leach, on 18 October.
Following her death, Leach falsely reported Vicki’s disappearance to police on 21 October 2021.
Fillies testified that officers knew Cullis was lying when they questioned him on 22 October 2021, and after being probed, he broke down and revealed the details of the murder.
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When questioned by prosecutor Marius Stander during today’s court proceedings, Fillies said he arrived at the Westview Village residence where Vicki and Leach lived on 22 October at about 21:20. Leach arrived about two hours later at the residence.
During cross-examination with Terblanche’s legal representative, Peter Daubermann, Fillies said he went to the residence to assist other police members already on the scene. He noted a foul smell coming from the house, which was later confirmed to be old meat in the fridge.
After interviewing Leach, Fillies accompanied other officers to locate Mario De Ridder and Dylan Cullis.
Fillies explained they could not find De Ridder at the Westering address provided by Leach. They subsequently went to Cullis, who resided in Newton Park with his father.
During cross-examination, Fillies revealed he and the other police members knew Cullis was lying. After being probed by police members, Cullis had a panic attack and said he was afraid of Leach.
Cullis then revealed that Vicki’s husband, Terblanche was supposed to pay Leach, and then Leach would pay him for murdering Vicki.
During the pair’s divorce proceedings, Vicki had been seeking R35 000 per month in maintenance and a significant financial settlement.
Fillies testified that Cullis said he would prefer to speak at the police station, and they went to the Mount Road police station to continue the interview.
At the police station, Cullis revealed that Vicki was killed by Leach on 18 October by being suffocated with a pillow.
Daubermann then asked for a short adjournment. Following that, he told the court the witness had gone beyond his initial statement and there were inconsistencies between his testimony and what he said at Leach’s trial.
Daubermann requested a remand until tomorrow to properly prepare for Fillies’ cross-examination.
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