The parents of slain teacher Jayde Panayiotou tightly held hands as they walked into the Port Elizabeth High Court on Tuesday for the first day of her husband Christopher’s trial.
Michelle and Derick Inggs, along with family and friends, wore yellow ribbons on their clothes in a sign of unity.
They found space on a bench in the tightly-packed Courtroom A.
Christopher Panayiotou’s family were seen meeting with the defence team at a coffee shop near the court.
His dad Costa, mom Fanoula and other relatives walked in a tight bunch to the court, past journalists and photographers.
Christopher stands accused of orchestrating his wife’s murder on April 21 2015.
He was charged with Sinethemba Nenember and Zolani Sibeko.
Jayde was kidnapped outside her townhouse complex in Kabega Park in the city while waiting for her friend to give her a lift to the school where she taught.
Her body was found in a veld in KwaNobuhle, Uitenhage, the next day. She had been shot three times.
Sizwezakhe Vumazonke, believed to be the hitman hired by bouncer Luthando Siyoni – who had been in the employ of Panayiotou at the time and who has subsequently turned State witness – died in a Port Elizabeth hospital in September.
A number of computer monitors in the courtroom will allow for the multitude of documents in the court case to be displayed electronically.
[Source: News24]