The trial of the men accused of plotting to kill Gqeberha mother Vicki Terblanche is set to get underway in the Gqeberha High Court on Monday.
Vicki's estranged husband, Arnold Terblanche, and her boyfriend at the time of her murder, Reinhardt Leach, are among the accused.
Her body was found in a shallow grave in Greenbushes on the outskirts of Gqeberha in October 2021, just days before her 42nd birthday.
Both men are facing charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder, while Leach, a former school teacher, is facing additional charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances, unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, defeating the course of justice and two charges of drug possession.
Vicki's estranged husband, Arnold Terblanche, is also facing additional charges of conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to defeat the course of justice for allegedly plotting to have his co-accused killed while he was in custody at the St Albans Correctional facility.
After a lengthy battle, Terblanche was finally released on bail of R1 million, while Leach has been in custody since his arrest on the week of the murder.
A third accused, Dylan Cullis, has taken a plea agreement with the state and is serving 18 years for his role in the crime.
Cullis, in his plea, said that Leach had killed Vicki, while Leach pointed the finger at Cullis.
A third accused, Mario de Ridder Jnr, turned state witness.
The trial was set to start in October 2024 but was delayed due to a lengthy pre-trial conference where Leach brought a bail application, which was denied.
The Regional Court President Samson Dunywa will serve as Acting Judge in the high-profile case.
Dunywa started working as a public prosecutor in 1983 after graduating from the University of Zululand. He furthered his studies in 1989 at Unisa and in 2007 at the Nelson Mandela University.
Listen to the first two seasons of the Algoa FM News Exclusive Podcast, Journey to Justice, to catch up on this case.
