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Farmer flees before murder trial
30/04/2008 09:33 - (SA)
Marietie Louw-Carstens, Beeld
Polokwane (Pietersburg) - A Limpopo farmer who allegedly ran over his wife with his bakkie, killing her, has disappeared without a trace.
Family members of Lizette Terblanche, 45, on Tuesday had harsh words for her husband, Fanie Terblanche, 38, from Mokopane (Potgietersrus) who was charged with her murder.
Terblanche is suspected of running over his wife with his bakkie in October 2006, killing her.
He apparently drove around for hours with her body next to him in the bakkie after the incident occurred.
'We knew this would happen'
The incident happened in the early hours of the morning after the couple and an aunt of Terblanche's, Letitia, had gone socialising in Polokwane.
On their way home Lizette asked her husband to stop at the dirt road in the Uitloop area because she was feeling nauseous.
What happened afterwards is a mystery, as Terblanche allegedly reversed the bakkie and hit his wife.
He arrived at family members with his wife's body some hours later.
He apparently also fired shots at his aunt.
Terblanche's trial should have started last week in the circuit court in Mokopane.
"We knew he wouldn't pitch up for his trial," Liesl Hobbs, Lizette's sister, said.
Police are searching
The family are upset that Terblanche had been released on R10 000 bail.
He is facing charges of murder, attempted murder, malicious damage to property and driving under the influence of alcohol.
He was remanded in custody for more than a week and Magistrate Annelise Swanepoel refused bail in Mokopane.
He however lodged an appeal and he was released by the Pretoria High Court on R10 000 bail.
He only had to hand in his passport, but did not need to report regularly to a police station.
Hobbs said that Terblanche had shortly afterwards gone to live with a sister of his near the Botswana border.
He did however appear at his last court appearance in January in Mokopane.
"We hope the police find him, but we doubt it. We knew this was going to happen when he was released on bail, that it why we were so disappointed. Nothing will ever bring back my sister, but he must be held accountable," Liesl said.
A warrant has been ordered for Terblanche's arrest.
The forfeiting of his bail has been postponed until 5 May.
Vincent LeCornuwat who was acting as Terblanche's legal representative, withdrew from the case last week.
He said on Tuesday that he had no idea where Terblanche was.
Police spokesperson Constable Madikgale Nkomo could not say on Tuesday how the search for Terblanche was progressing.
- Beeld
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