Slain Riebeek College teacher Jayde Panyiotou's sister Toni Inggs has expressed her heartfelt thanks to the Port Elizabeth community for all their support.
There was a sense of relief for her family in court on Friday when Magistrate Abigail Beeton denied bail to murder accused Christopher Panayiotou.
Beeton said that the businessman had failed to show that exceptional circumstances existed for him to be granted bail.
28-year-old Panayiotou is accused of orchestrating the abduction and murder of his wife, whose body was found near Kwanobuhle in Uitenhage late in April.
She had been shot three times.
The Inngs family took up the front bench of the public gallery and for the first time Jayde's sister Toni, was accompanied by her father Derick.
Her mother, Michelle, was absent.
When Panayiotou entered the court room, the family remained standing, as if willing him to make eye contact with them.
They rejoiced when Beeton made her ruling, visibly emotional and raising their hands in the air.
Toni Inggs told AlgoaFM News that her heart was broken but that she would like to thank the public for their support.
With tears in her eyes she said "for once South Africa had got something right."
The matter was postponed to next Friday when Beeton will provide the full reasons for her decision.
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Story and Pictures: Raahil Sain
