André van Wyk, known by his friends as "Smiley", made a brief appearance in the Pretoria North Magistrate’s Court on Monday. Van Wyk handed himself over to police two weeks ago.

He faces charges of murder, rape and mutilation.

Tania Carstens, for the State, told the court that Van Wyk would be sent for psychiatric evaluation to determine his mental state.

Van Wyk's attorney, Advocate Corrie Nieuwenhuys, told the court that his client would, at this moment, not be applying for a bail, saying his observation was more important at the moment.

The State said it would prefer if Van Wyk remained at Kgosi Mampuru II prison hospital, saying that it would be more convenient should he need any sudden medical care.

The matter was postponed until October 25, while the State waited for a bed to open at Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital.

Nieuwenhuys said he would prefer that his client remained in a holding cell at a police station in order to make communication easier.

The court ordered that Van Wyk stays in a single cell at Kgosi Mampuru II.

Speaking to the media, Nieuwenhuys said that he believed the psychiatric evaluation was the best thing for his client at the moment.

Smit was found brutally murdered in her father's home on April 10, 2010, with her hands removed and a bottle sticking out from between her legs.

Smit's ex-boyfriend Nico Venter‚ who was initially arrested for Smit’s murder‚ previously said that Van Wyk's arrest was a surprise.

- News24.com