Former Bay school teacher Reinhardt Leach has been sentenced to an effective 25 years in prison for his role in the murder of Vicki Terblanche.
Acting Judge Samson Dunywa delivered his sentence in the Gqeberha High Court on Friday morning.
During sentencing Dunywa said femicide and other forms of Gender Based Violence have reached alarming proportions in South Africa, undermining the rights of women.
He said that according to the Constitution, Human life is precious, yet people put a price tag on it for financial gain.
However, he did agree with both the defence and state that there were some compelling circumstances to deviate from the maximum sentence. Leach was remorseful, repented, and pleaded guilty, not wasting the court's time.
Count 1: Conspiracy to commit murder, nine years.
Count 2: Murder 23 years.
Count 3: Robbery 10 years.
Count 4: Illegal possession of a firearm, five years.
Count 5: Illegal possession of ammunition, five months.
Count 6: Defeating the ends of justice seven years.
Count 7 & 8: Possession of drugs, 10 months each.
Dunywa ordered that counts four to eight run concurrently, as well as two years of the murder charge, effectively sentencing him to 25 years.
Vicki Terblanche was killed on 18 October 2021, after she was given an overdose of drugs, suffocated and buried in a shallow grave.
Dylan Cullis, earlier, took a plea deal with the state and is already serving an 18-year prison sentence for his role in the crime.
The alleged mastermind and Vicki's estranged husband Arnold Terblanche will go on trial in October.
For an in-depth case analysis, follow the Algoa FM News Exclusive Podcast Journey to Justice. The final episode of Season 3 will be live on March 20th, 2025.
