Vicki Terblanche was drugged and then suffocated with a pillow.
Image: File image
Reinhardt Leach has been handed a 56-year sentence for the murder of his girlfriend, Vicki Terblanche.
In handing down sentence on Friday, Judge Samson Dunywa, sentenced Leach to 23 years for murder, nine for conspiracy to commit murder, 10 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances and five years for unlawfully possessing a firearm, five months for unlawfully possessing ammunition, seven for obstructing justice and 20 months for drug possession.
The court ordered that the sentences will run concurrently, with Leach serving a total of 25 years in prison.
The Eastern Cape High Court found Leach guilty on the charges relating to Terblanche's October 2021 murder.
On the day of her death, Terblanche was fed a copious amount of drugs and, hours later, suffocated with a pillow.
Her body was then bundled into a car and dumped in a shallow grave in Greenbushes.
Following his conviction, Leach penned an apology to Terblanche's teenage son
In his letter, he apologised to Terblanche's son for the pain he caused him.
He said he was "deeply ashamed" that he failed to protect the boy.
Leach also apologised to his own parents, adding that they raised him to know right from wrong. His wish was for his parents to forgive him.
Terblanche's ex-husband, Arnold Terblanche, also faces charges for her murder. He is currently out on R1 million bail. His trial gets under way in October this year.
seanne.rall@iol.co.za
IOL
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