Alleged wife killer Arnold Terblanche will be spending another weekend in custody while his defence team finalises his replying affidavit in his ongoing battle for freedom.
On Friday, attorney Peter Daubermann told magistrate Kriban Pillay, who is presiding over Terblanche’s formal bail application based on new facts, that the document was “virtually complete” but needed to be proofread and properly formatted before it could be submitted to court.
Daubermann, who has since Tuesday asked for the court’s indulgence to allow the defence to complete the affidavit, told Pillay an unsigned copy of the affidavit would be given to state advocate Marius Stander during the weekend and the signed copy would be ready to be submitted on Monday.
Arguments are then expected to be heard on Tuesday.
The affidavit is in response to an explosive affidavit penned by investigating officer Colonel Kanna Swanepoel which included the allegation that Terblanche’s slain estranged wife, Vicki, had previously plotted to have him killed.
Swanepoel’s statement also detailed how Terblanche allegedly conspired to have his two co-accused, Reinhardt Leach and Dylan Cullis, as well as state witness Mario de Ridder Jnr killed after their arrests.
Last week Terblanche was rearrested at the St Alban’s Correctional Facility, where he has been kept in custody since his November arrest, and charged with conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to defeat the ends of justice.
Swanepoel’s statement contained details of how a senior department of correctional service official had introduced Terblanche to a man allegedly posing as a senior police official, only identified as “Mr A”.
Mr A was allegedly meant to help him with his legal woes.
This allegedly included bribing department of justice officials, influencing the appointment of judges to hear his bail appeal, and to have Swanepoel removed from the case.
Since the details emerged, correctional services has confirmed a high-ranking official has been “reappointed” and an internal investigation is under way.
Terblanche was initially charged alongside Leach and Cullis for the murder of Vicki, whose body was found buried in a shallow grave on a plot in Greenbushes on October 23 2021.
She had been reported missing by her boyfriend, Leach, two days earlier.
All three men faces charges of conspiracy to commit murder, murder and defeating the ends of justice.
Leach and Cullis have abandoned their bail applications while Cullis has indicated that he will plead guilty to his alleged role.
Terblanche previously indicated to the court that he intended pleading not guilty to the charges.
He was refused bail in January, with the court finding that he posed a flight risk and might interfere with state witnesses.
In March judge Glenn Goosen dismissed his appeal. Terblanche brought his second application for bail based on new facts in April.
He is expected back in court on October 28 in relation to the new charges he faces.
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