Murder victim Vicki Terblanche, 42, was found in a shallow grave in an open field in Greenbushes on the outskirts of Gqeberha.
Image: Facebook
In what can only be described as a 'drug party', one of the men implicated in the murder of Gqeberha mother, Vicki Terblanche, told the court how they consumed copious amounts of drugs on the day she was killed.
Dylan Cullis, took the stand in the Gqeberha High Court on Tuesday where he detailed the events leading up to the 42-year-old woman's cruel demise.
In 2021, IOL reported that the Terblanche's body was found dumped in a shallow grave in Greenbushes. Terblanche had been reported missing by her boyfriend, Reinhardt Leach.
Shortly after the gruesome find, Leach was arrested and has been in custody since October 2021. Terblanche's estranged husband, Arnold Terblanche, was also arrested.
In his testimony, Cullis said it was Leach who murdered Terblanche.
According to Cullis, who is serving a prison sentence for his role in Terblanche's murder, he met Leach and the state's witness, Mario de Ridder Jnr, shortly before the murder.
He explained how they, with Terblanche, consumed large amounts of drugs, including Methcathinone (CAT). He said Leach wanted to get a gun and managed to get a .22 calibre.
Cullis said Leach told them he was going to kill Terblanche because she was due R5million from her divorce settlement. He added that because they were all under the influence of drugs, he did not take Leach seriously, Algoa FM News reported.
Cullis said Leach gave him money to buy Percocet. This was then mixed with Berocca and given to Terblanche to drink.
He said 30 minutes later, Leach told him it was all going to plan. A short while later, Cullis recalled hearing Terblanche gagging while Leach was asleep.
He told the court he tried to wake her up and when she opened her eyes, he dragged her to another room and put a blanket behind her so she would not fall onto her back.
Cullis claimed that he then fell asleep next to Terblanche and woke up when Leach walked into the room and accused him of sleeping with Terblanche.
According Cullis, Leach ordered him to kill Terblanche but he could not. He said it was Leach who then got on top of Terblanche after tucking her into the blanket and then using a pillow, smothered her to death.
Once she was dead, Leach and De Ridder packed her belongings and items of hers that they wanted to sell into a boot.
Cullis said for two days, Terblanche's body remained in the house and then on October 20, Leach told Cullis and De Ridder to change Terblanche's clothing. The men put Terblanche's body into a boot and went go-karting to set up an alibi.
After, they got a man to dig a grave and dumped Terblanche's body.
Cullis claimed that he never met Terblanche's husband, Arnold Terblanche and only saw him in court in November after his arrest.
His testimony continues on Wednesday.
seanne.rall@iol.co.za
IOL
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