Boyfriend and friend in court over woman found in a shallow grave in Gqeberha

The boyfriend and friend of 42-year-old Vicki Terblanche appeared in the Gqeberha Magistrate Court on Monday.

HER BOYFRIEND REPORTED HER MISSING LAST WEEK

On Saturday, Terblanche was found in a shallow grave in an open field in Greenbushes in Gqeberha after her 32-year-old boyfriend Reinhardt Leach reported her missing.

Terblanche is the mother of a 12-year-old boy. According to reports Terblanche and Leach were living together.

According to police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu, Reinhardt Leach and his friend Dylan Cullis (24) appeared in court for the alleged murder of Terblanche.

“The case was postponed to Wednesday.”

She said police were alerted to a suspicious house in a complex on 1st Avenue in Millpark on Saturday.

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“On 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, a 32-year-old man arrived and indicated that he lived there.”

She said the police officers recognised the man as he had reported his girlfriend missing on Thursday, 21 October 2021, at the Mount Road police station.

On Friday, Leach made a post on his Facebook to ask for assistance in finding Terblanche.

“The man was then taken to the police station for questioning. A further probe led police to a house in Burd Street in Newton Park, where a 24-year-old man was also questioned.”

THE BODY OF VICKI WAS FOUND BURIED IN A SHALLOW GRAVE

Naidu said at about 03:00 on Saturday morning, after an intense investigation, detectives, with the assistance of the K9 Search and Rescue Unit, found the body of the missing woman Vicky Terblanche buried in a shallow grave in an open field in Greenbushes.

“A post mortem will be done to determine the cause of death.

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“Both men ( the boyfriend and his friend) are detained on a charge of murder and are expected to appear in the Gqeberha magistrate court on Monday, 25 October 2021. Circumstances leading to her fatal demise are under investigation.”

Naidu said, earlier this week, on Wednesday, 20 October 2021, the body of a pregnant 16-year-old Cynthia Williams was found buried in the backyard of her fiancé’s house in Bauhinia Crescent in Thomas Gamble in Kamesh.

“She was pregnant at the time of her death. It is alleged that the teenager was allegedly stabbed on 11 October 2021 by her 19-year-old boyfriend.

“Her family reported her missing at SAPS Kamesh. Kyle Barnes appeared in the Kariega magistrate court on Friday, 22/10, on a charge of murder. He is remanded in custody until next week for a formal bail application.”

Acting Nelson Mandela Bay District Commissioner, Brigadier Thandiswa Kupiso stated that it is appalling to note that these women have met their fate in such a vile and despicable manner at the mercy of those they loved and trusted.