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The case of murdered Vicki Terblanche is steadily making its way to the Gqeberha High Court after several bail applications were heard in the Magistrate's Court for her estranged husband who is also one of the accused, Arnold Terblanche.
During today's appearance in the Magistrate's Court, January 20, state prosecutor, adv. Marius Terblanche, asked for the case to be postponed to March 24 for transfer to the Gqeberha High Court.
Stander also asked for the postponement of the case where Terblanche is the sole accused, to March 24 for transfer to the High Court. This case is in relation to a list of charges that Terblanche faces alone after allegations surfaced in October last year that he allegedly tried to have his two co-accused, Reinhardt Leach and Dylan Cullis, murdered.
"The intention is ultimately to add this charge [of the one accused] to the other charge sheet [of the three accused]," Stander said.
He added that Cullis, who is working on a plea bargain with the state, would not be joining the other two when the case is transferred to the High Court. He will be requisitioned sometime next week instead.
It was also indicated in court that Leach, who was Vicki's boyfriend at the time of her death, will now be represented by Legal Aid. He was previously represented by a private attorney, Theuns Roelofse.
In the meantime, Terblanche's legal team will lodge an appeal in the Makhanda High Court after he was once again denied bail on December 23 last year. This will take place on February 9.
The three face several charges relating to Vicki's murder after her body was found in a shallow grave in Greenbushes in October 2021.
During their appearance today, the three men seemed slightly confused when they were ushered into the courtroom from the holding cells. Instead of sitting in the dock, they slid into the front row of the gallery next to Express's reporter. After a few seconds of members of the media scooting up to make space for them, they were told by the court orderly that they are in the wrong bench. After embarrassed smiles at the gallery, they went to the dock where they sat next to two accused from a different case.
