Algoa FM News
The murder trial of one of the men accused of killing Gqeberha mother, Vicki Terblanche, finally got underway in the city's high court on Monday, with the state calling its first witness.
State Prosecutor Marius Stander laid out its case to Acting Judge Samson Dunywa, describing what they would set out to prove.
Vicki's body was discovered in a shallow grave after being drugged and suffocated on 18 October 2021.
Stander said the reason why he could not accept Leach's guilty plea on the charge of murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances was that there were other people involved.
He said the real issue in dispute between the state and Leach is how Vicki was killed, by whom, and how she died.
He said he would call Leach's co-accused Dylan Cullis, who is already serving time in prison, and Mario de Ridder, the state's 204 witness, to the stand during the trial. A pathologist is also expected to testify.
On Monday, the state called its first witness, Constable Nontutuzelo Tinto, a SAPS member for the past 13 years, to the stand.
On 21 October 2021, Tinto was working at the Community Service Centre at the Mount Road police station when Leach arrived with another woman to report Vicki as missing.
Tinto said that although she saw the other woman, she could not say with all certainty that the two were together, as two people were not allowed into the station together due to strict COVID-19 regulations.
She explained to the court the process of filing a missing person report, which includes requiring the person opening the case to make a statement under oath.
Tinto told the court that Leach had said he left the house, and upon returning, Vicki was gone. When he tried calling her, her phone went to voicemail. He said the last time he saw her, she was wearing blue jeans with a black top.
She further stated that a photograph is essential when filing a missing person report, as it must be circulated among those who search.
She noted that Leach did not even have a photograph of Vicki on his cellphone and instructed him to return with one.
The date stamp on the affidavit was 1.56 pm.
Tinto said she could not recall when Leach returned with a photograph, but it was just before she ended her shift at 6 pm.
The trial continues.
Listen to the Algoa FM News Exclusive Podcast, Journey to Justice, to catch up on this case.
