UPDATE: Arnold Terblanche appeared in the Gqeberha Magistrate’s Court again today, April 20, although the initial date of remand was May 11.
During today’s court appearance, the state placed on record that the hold up was not that Deputy Judge President Van Zyl still had to allocate a date, but rather that the indictment must first be signed and handed in before Van Zyl becomes involved and can allocate a date.
The matter will still appear in court again on May 11, 2023.
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The murder case against Arnold Terblanche has still not made its way to the High Court, despite the fact that he was arrested in November 2021 already.
Terblanche and his co-accused, Reinhardt Leach, who was Vicki’s boyfriend at the time of her murder, once again appeared in the Gqeberha Magistrate’s Court this morning, April 19.
According to the state, there are two outstanding issues that prevent the case from being transferred to the Gqeberha High Court for a trial date to be set.
The Director of Public Prosecutions still has to sign the finalised indictment and the main hold up in terms of a High Court transfer is that Deputy Judge President Van Zyl must allocate a date.
The case has been postponed to May 11, 2023, in the meantime.
Terblanche and Leach were both arrested in 2021 following their alleged involvement in the murder of Terblanche’s estranged wife, Vicki Terblanche. Following several failed attempts, Terblanche was finally released on bail of R1 million on February 9.
Vicki’s body was found in a shallow grave in Greenbushes in October 2021 after she was drugged, smothered and/or strangled, allegedly by Leach.
Another accused, Dylan Cullis, was also arrested in connection with Vicki’s murder but turned state witness and entered into a plea deal.
He was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment at the end of March this year.
