The boyfriend of murdered Vicki Terblanche (42) whose body was found in a shallow grave in Greenbushes late last month, appeared alongside his co-accused in the Gqeberha Magistrate’s Court this morning, November 8.
The boyfriend, 32-year-old Reinhardt Leach and co-accused, Dylan Cullis (24), were supposed to apply for bail today but the application was provisionally remanded to Wednesday, November 10.
State prosecutor, adv. Melani Hammett, said that adv. Marius Stander, who is supposed to take over this case as prosecutor, was not available today due to other commitments in the Gqeberha High Court.
Stander will only be available on Wednesday.
“I would like to put on record that accused number one’s passport was handed to the state this morning,” Hammett said, referring to Leach. She added that although the accused were only charged with one count of murder, she had been provided with a thorough charge sheet.
She also mentioned that it is a provisional charge sheet.
During today’s appearance, both accused entered the dock with faces stripped of any expression.
Cullis, clad in a green fleece jacket, stood with his head upright and hands behind his back after opening the gate of the dock and allowing Leach to enter first. Leach, who wore a black T-shirt, stared out in front of him until it was time to leave the dock.
The two were arrested on October 23 following the discovery of Terblanche’s body in the shallow grave two days after she was reported missing by Leach.
They made their first court appearance on October 25.
According to police information, on Friday night October 22, at approximately 22:00, SAPS Mount Road was alerted to a suspicious house in a complex in 1st Avenue, Mill Park.
Upon arrival, police found that the doors, including the garage door, were wide open. Intuitive that something was amiss, police roped in forensics to assist.
While still at the house, Leach arrived and indicated that he lived there.
Detectives recognised him as the one who reported his girlfriend missing on Thursday, October 21.
Leach was then taken to the police station for questioning.
A further probe led police to a house in Burt Street, Newton Park where Cullis was also questioned. At about 03:00 the Saturday morning and after intense investigation, detectives, with the assistance of the K9 Search and Rescue Unit, found Terblanche’s body.
The accused will remain in custody until their next court appearance.
