Families to light candles in memory of two beautiful women‚ brutally killed

08 December 2015 - 13:39 By Staff Reporter

The families of murder victims Reeva Steenkamp and Jayde Panayiotou will join hands for a candle-lit march tomorrow against violence towards women. Both women were 29 years old when they were shot dead.Steenkamp‚ a model and lawyer who grew up in Port Elizabeth‚ was gunned down by her boyfriend Oscar Pistorius in Pretoria in the early hours of Valentine’s Day in 2013.Panayiotou‚ a teacher‚ was kidnapped from outside her townhouse in the city in April this year. Early police evidence was that she was shot at close range‚ twice in the back and once in the head. Her businessman husband Christopher is accused of orchestrating her murder with two men. He denies guilt. His trial along with the alleged “fixer” and gunman‚ resumes next year.Toni Inggs‚ Panayiotou’s sister‚ announced that the two families would join the march on 9 December 2015 alongside members of the African National Congress Women’s League “and other families affected by these kinds of crimes”‚ to make a stand against violence against women and children.In a public message on the Justice for Jayde page on Facebook‚ she wrote: “‪#‎16daysofactivism‬ ends on the 10th of December and what better than to get together for a cause very close to our hearts… I will be wearing my ‪#‎redlipsforjayde‬ and will also be there to support ‪#‎justiceforReeva‬ and justice for all the families in this situation”.“Make a stand for the incredible women&children we have lost and raise awareness for people living in abusive relationships. The only way we can make a difference is by standing together.”The cases of both Panayiotou and Pistorius were before the courts today.In Port Elizabeth‚ Panayiotou lost an application to see parts of the police docket in the case against him.In Pretoria‚ Pistorius was granted bail of R10‚000 to remain under house arrest pending legal efforts to overturn his murder conviction by the appeal court‚ which had ruled against the high court’s verdict of culpable homicide. While the former athlete can leave his home between 7am and 12 noon‚ he may not leave the city and must submit to electronic monitoring...

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