Christopher Panayiotou, accused of master-minding the murder of his wife Jayde, had an on and off relationship with his employee Chanelle Coutts.

This was according to his lawyer Alwyn Griebenow on Wednesday, Netwerk24 reported.

On speculation that Coutts could be pregnant, Griebenow said: “If she is pregnant Christopher is not aware of it.”

Coutts’s lawyer, Danie Coutts, dismissed the rumours of pregnancy and tests as “absurd”.

Coutts, the personnel manager at the OK Grocer in Algoa Park, was not at the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court where Panayiotou was applying for bail.

Panayiotou, 28, Thando Siyoli, 31 and Sizwezakhe Vumazonke, 30, were arrested in the days following Jayde’s disappearance.

She was last seen waiting outside their home in Kabega Park for her lift to Riebeeck Park High School on Tuesday, April 21. She was found dead outside Kwanobuhle township in Uitenhage the following day.

Panayiotou is facing charges of conspiracy to commit murder; robbery with aggravated circumstances; kidnapping; murder; and defeating the ends of justice.

Magistrate Abigail Beaton postponed the matter to Thursday because of confusion over who was representing Panayiotou.

Advocate Theuns Roelofse told the court that advocate Terry Price would resume his duties as Panayiotou’s lawyer.

Price was not in court on Wednesday when Panayioyou’s bail application was meant to continue.

He was in Johannesburg and expected to fly to Port Elizabeth on Wednesday afternoon.

Beaton said she was not happy with the substitution. News24