The PE businessman is charged with orchestrating the abduction and murder of his wife last month.
The two families made no eye contact with each other and Jayde's sister was visibly emotional when the accused entered the court.
Proceedings started with State Prosecutor Marius Stander expressing his shock at an interview given to ENCA by defence attorney Alwyn Griebenow.
Stander says a normal person cannot wipe out cellphone records and Panayiotou obtained software to do a factory reset on his own phone - and that of his mistress Chanelle Coutts.
The hearing continues.
