Anika Smit murder accused's psychiatric evaluation extended

Pretoria - The man accused of murdering teenager Anika Smit will spend more time under psychiatric evaluation, the Pretoria North Magistrate’s Court heard on Friday. 

André van Wyk, 26, known by his friends as "Smiley", was not in court on Friday morning. His parents, however, attended proceedings. 

At his last court appearance, he was sent for psychiatric evaluation at Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital for 30 days. He had to spend another 20 days there, for further evaluation.

The matter was postponed to December 15.

Smit, 17, was raped and mutilated in her Theresa Park home in 2010. The Grade 11 pupil at Gerrit Maritz High School lived with her father Johan Smit at the time.

On the day of her murder, she stayed home from school because of an ear infection. She was raped, her throat was slit and her hands were cut off. Her hands have still not been found.

Smit's boyfriend, Nico Venter, was accused of killing her, but the charges were withdrawn. He previously said that Van Wyk's arrest was a surprise.