Fear and tension on Panayiotou’s turf

Murder accused Christopher Panayiotou File photo

Murder accused Christopher Panayiotou File photo

Published May 25, 2015

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Port Elizabeth - By day Christopher Panayiotou was your friendly family grocer. He would chat to customers, assist where possible and make sure certain standards were met.

In fact, Panayiotou was so good at his job that the OK Grocer supermarket in Algoa Park - in which he has a 10 percent share - was nominated as franchisee of the year three years in a row.

But now Panayiotou stands accused of masterminding the abduction and murder of school teacher wife Jayde last month.

She was abducted from outside her Kabega Park home. Her body was found in KwaNobuhle a day later. She had been shot thrice.

Panayiotou allegedly paid R70 000 to Thando Siyoli, a bouncer at Infinity Club - a cocktail lounge Panayiotou owns in the same complex - to arrange the hit on Jayde.

Siyoli in turn allegedly secured the services of Sizwezakhe Vumazonke to carry out the job.

Siyoli was the first suspect arrested by police for Jayde’s murder and is said to have “co-operated fully” with them, pointing out Panayiotou as the mastermind and Vumazonke as the man who pulled the trigger.

The Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court has heard that there were other attempts on Jayde's life but these were aborted due to changes in plans.

One such plan was for Jayde to be lured to Sunday lunch at Infinity Club by Panayiotou, then when she left the club, Vumazonke would follow her and kill her. On that particular day, Jayde didn't want to go to lunch at the club and the plan was foiled.

These allegations are contained in an affidavit prepared by investigating officer Kanna Swanepoel and which was read out in court last week in front of Magistrate Abigail Beeton.

The motive for Jayde's killing, according to Swanepoel, was that Panayiotou was having an affair with OK Grocer staff member Chanelle Coutts and had overcommitted himself financially and battled to keep both mistress and wife happy.

 

At the OK Grocer complex in Algoa Park on Sunday the atmosphere was tense.

Staff and shoppers alike spoke about Panayiotou and the bail application being played out in hushed tones.

One staff member, standing outside on a smoke break, described the situation as “hectic”.

“It's hectic here now. Everyone is scared. There are witnesses here and what if someone is sent to get them,” says the staffer.

At Infinity the bar staff refused to discuss the case.

In court last week, Swanepoel cautioned against granting Panayiotou bail, arguing that his familiarity with key State witnesses and the fact that he knew their addresses mitigated against his release.

Another reason put forward by Swanepoel for bail to be denied was the fact that Panayiotou held a Cypriot passport and that his family owned property in Cyprus.

The police officer said that in the event of Panayiotou fleeing to Cyprus, it would be extremely difficult to get him extradited to face trial in South Africa.

In court on Tuesday, Panayiotou’s legal team will file heads of argument before a decision on his immediate future is to be made by magistrate Abigail Beaton.

 

IOL

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