Port Elizabeth - Murder accused Christopher Panayioutou has admitted in court that he was involved in a romantic relationship with the manager of one of his businesses, and that he had lunch and dinner dates with her and bought her gifts.
These details emerged during the bail hearing of Panayiotou on Thursday in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court. Panayiotou is accused of having arranged the murder of his school teacher wife Jayde.
In his replying affidavit, Panayiotou made the startling admission that he did in fact have a romantic relationship with his store manager, Chanelle Coutts. He further admitted to having lunch and dinner dates with Coutts and buying her gifts, but denied that his father, Costa, threatened to disown him should he not end the relationship. He further denied that he had threatened to fire Coutts should she give evidence against him in court.
In his affidavit, Panayiotou argued that other individuals had been granted bail in matters far worse than his, and that he had every intention to stand trial to prove his innocence. He also put forward that he believed the State did not have a strong case against him. However, his hopes of being quickly released on bail, having already spent three weeks behind bars, were dashed when the matter was postponed to Tuesday for final arguments.
State advocate Marius Stander had requested the postponement in order to file his final heads of argument. Stander asked for the postponement after Panayiotou’s legal representative, advocate Terry Price, read his client’s replying affidavit to the State into the record.
It also emerged on Thursday that Panayiotou’s mother brought him food in prison. Earlier this week, he had complained that the food he was given in St Albans prison did not meet all basic nutritional requirements.
In his affidavit, Panayiotou also pointed to the fact that court rolls were full, and the likelihood that he would only be put on trial by 2016.
ANA