Cullis gives chilling account of murder in tell-all affidavit

When Dylan Cullis found out about the plot to kill motherof-one Vicki Terblanche, he tried to tell her — but they were so drugged up she kept falling asleep and he eventually passed out too.

Earlier, he had rolled her onto her side to prevent her from choking on her own vomit and moved her to another room, away from her boyfriend Reinhardt Leach.

But it was not long before he found himself standing by, watching as Leach — angry that he had interfered — took a pillow and allegedly smothered the life out Vicki.

Cullis admitted he did nothing to stop it.

After 17 months in custody and now sober, Cullis, 22, said he wanted to take full responsibility for his role in Vicki’s death by pleading guilty to a charge of murder.

The Gqeberha high court yesterday accepted his version of events and sentenced him to 18 years’ imprisonment in terms of a plea and sentence agreement between the state and the defence.

As the gavel went down on Cullis’s future, it opened the door for senior state advocate Marius Stander and investigating officer Colonel Kanna Swanepoel to consult with him and possibly call him as a witness in the trial against Leach and Vicki’s estranged husband, Arnold Terblanche.

In a tell-all affidavit, Cullis fingered Terblanche as the alleged mastermind. Terblanche, Leach and Cullis were all arrested shortly after the murder, when Cullis pointed out Vicki’s body, buried in a shallow grave in Greenbushes, to the police.

From the get-go, he admitted guilt.

Terblanche is out on bail of R1m, while Leach abandoned his bid for freedom.

A fourth person, Mario de Ridder Jnr, has since turned state witness and could escape a jail term should his testimony be found to be reliable and honest.

“He [Cullis] indicates that he remains deeply remorseful for all the pain and suffering he has caused to his parents and to the family and child of Vicki, especially because his actions effectively deprived a teenager of a mother and his own child of a father,” defence advocate Hannelie Bakker said.

Cullis said he had met De Ridder Jnr about three weeks before the October 18 2021 murder through a mutual friend and they began to hang out regularly.

“I first met Leach on October 15 2021 when I went with Mario to the house where Leach and Vicki lived.

“This was also the first time I met her.

“That evening me, Mario, Leach and Vicki ended up at a house party in Sherwood.

“Leach and Vicki looked happy and acted as a normal couple,” Cullis told the court.

“On October 18, Mario and I met up with Leach and Vicki,

using drugs and playing Xbox. Vicki was unwell.

“Leach then suggested we go for a drive and leave Vicki at home. We got into a white BMW.”

He said it was at this stage that Leach allegedly told them he was looking for a firearm.

“Neither of us inquired why Leach wanted a firearm.

“I assumed he wanted it for protection in the perlemoen business as I knew Leach and Mario were actively involved in the poaching underworld.

“Leach asked if I knew anyone that could provide him with a firearm.

“I said no, but lied and said I could phone some people.

“I never knew anyone that could help, but I wanted to be cool and impress Leach to fit into his circle.”

He said Leach eventually managed to obtain a gun from someone in Missionvale.

“We drove towards Seaview, where Leach fired two shots out the window while driving.

“On our way back to the house, Leach mentioned he needed the firearm to kill Vicki.

“I asked why and he replied that her husband wanted her dead.

“At first, I thought he was just high and not being serious.

“I knew nothing about Vicki and her husband’s problems, to me she was just Leach’s girlfriend.”

Cullis said when they got back to the house, Vicki was awake and they again started hanging out, allegedly using drugs and playing Xbox.

“Vicki and I had a conversation and it crossed my mind to inform her about Leach’s plan to shoot her, but I was still convinced he was not serious.

“I, in any event, would not have had the opportunity, because Leach was moving in and out the room where we were talking.”

He said Leach then wanted to go for another drive, but he was not sure why.

While the three men drove, Leach allegedly told them that he did not know how to kill Vicki.

“I realised then that he was serious,” Cullis said.

He said De Ridder Jnr and Leach allegedly started discussing ways to kill Vicki.

“Mario suggested it should look like an overdose. He also told Leach that I knew where to get drugs.

“I directed Leach to Schauderville and he gave me some money to buy about 40 [tablets], after which we drove back to the house.

“The effect of this drug is that it generally induces drowsiness, a slow mellowness and feelings of relaxation.

“I could see it had a severe effect on Vicki and Leach took her to their room.

“Leach remained in the room with her and Mario and I continued to play Xbox.

“Leach returned after about 15 minutes and crushed some pills.

“He mixed it into an orangelooking drink and gave me a sip. It tasted bitter.

“Leach returned to their bedroom.

“After about 30 minutes, Leach came out the room saying he had given her the drink and also that he had sex with her.

“He then went back to the room leaving the door open. After a few minutes I heard him snoring.”

De Ridder Jnr also passed out.

Cullis said he went to look what was happening in the room.

“I found Leach and Vicki lying next to each other.

“Vicki was starting to gag and I tried to wake her without waking Leach.

“Eventually, she reacted to an extent that I could help her into the spare bedroom.

“I tried to tell her, but she just could not stay awake.

“As she fell asleep again, I put her onto her side.

“I was sitting on the bed thinking of ways to rescue her, but I also fell asleep because of the drugs.”

Cullis woke up when Leach walked into the room.

“He did not say anything but he seemed agitated and asked if I had sex with her, which I denied.

“When Leach asked why Vicki was in the spare room, I didn’t respond.

“I realised he was cross because, as a result of my actions, her death by choking on her vomit could not materialise.

“Leach said ‘you go and do it now’.

“I went to the bedroom and just stared at her not knowing what to do. I called out to Leach.”

He said Leach then got on top of Vicki, tightened the blanket over her, removed the pillow from underneath her head and allegedly started to smother her with it.

Vicki was apparently still alive when De Ridder Jnr came into the room.

“We just looked on while Leach was smothering Vicki,” Cullis said.