Jayde Panayiotou’s husband charged with her murder, stays in custody

Christopher Panayiotou, 28, faces charges of kidnapping, robbing and killing her, as well as conspiracy to kill her.

Wearing a black suit and open shirt, he appeared quiet and reserved. The court postponed the matter to June 19 for further investigation. He will remain in custody until then.

People in the public gallery seemed relieved that he would remain in custody.

Nelson Mandela Bay Ratepayers' Association head Kobus Gerber was heard commenting: "Good, he needs to stay there."

Jayde Panayiotou was abducted outside her Kabega Park home on Tuesday, April 28, while waiting for her lift to the school where she worked. She was later found dead on the outskirts of a township in Uitenhage.

Another man arrested in connection with the crimes, Thando Siyali, 31, appeared in the same court on Thursday. Details had emerged that a substantial amount of money was paid to kill her. Earlier, Panayiotou claimed that he is not good with words and that is why he googled his eulogy for her funeral. Christopher Panayiotou's lawyer Alwyn Griebenow asked him during the weekend about the eulogy after reports surfaced that parts of the eulogy he delivered at his wife's funeral relied heavily on another one available online. Griebenow said Christopher explained to him that he was not good with words and every time he had to talk in front of people, including at his wedding, he looked on the internet for the right words. The eulogy contains phrases used in a tribute written by Charles Atkins called My Sweet Wife's Eulogy and dated October 2010.