Panayiotou bail bid: meet the players

Published May 26, 2015

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Port Elizabeth - Christoper Panayiotou will resume his bail application in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

Panayiotou, 28, stands accused of masterminding the abduction and murder of his school teacher wife Jayde, an incident that has left Port Elizabeth reeling.

It is alleged that Panayiotou paid his employee Thando Siyoli R70 000 for the hit on his wife.

Siyoli in turn secured the services of Sizwezakhe Vumazonke to carry out the job. Both men have also been arrested.

As Panayiotou makes a bid for bail, we take a look at the major players involved.

1. Jayde Panayiotou

Jayde, 29, met Panayiotou almost 10 years ago. The two fell in love and were married for two years. When news of Jayde's disappearance surfaced, hundreds of Port Elizabeth residents searched for her through the night. She was a teacher at Riebeek College Girls’ Hugh School in Uitenhage - her alma mater. Jayde taught grades 4-7 at the school. A memorial at the school attracted hundreds of parents, friends and relatives including Panayiotou's sister Kloe who teaches there. Jayde's family have been left devastated by her death. Placards outside Panayiotou's earlier court appearance simply read : Justice for Jayde.

2. Christopher Panayiotou

Alleged mastermind of the plot. The State is arguing that Panayiotou, 28, was involved in an extra-marital affair with Chanelle Coutts,an employee at the OK Grocer in Algoa Park, in which he has shares. It is claimed that Panayiotou over-committed himself financially and was struggling to keep both mistress and wife happy, resulting in the plot to kill Jayde. Panayiotou denies this, saying that he is worth R 3 million and did not have anything to do with Jayde's killing.

3. Thando Siyoli

Siyoli, 31, worked for Panayiotou as a bouncer at his cocktail lounge, Infinity Club. It is alleged Panayiotou approached Siyoli last year to have Jayde killed. He made contact with Vumazonke to arrange the hit. Siyoli was the first suspect arrested. He is said to have identified Panayiotou as the mastermind and Vumazonke as the shooter. Police described him as fully co-operative.

4. Sizwezakhe Vumazonke

 Vumazonke is the man alleged to have pulled the trigger. It is believed that he was to be paid R30 000 by Siyoli for the hit. According to the State's version, Vumazonke monitored Jayde's movements for some time before the attack. He was also involved in previous attempts to kill Jayde. On the day of the killing, he allegedly hit Jayde over the head, bundled her into the boot of a hired car then carried her into a veld in KwaNobuhle outside Uitenhage before shooting her in the back and head.

5. Terry Price

Arguably Port Elizabeth's top advocate, Price has represented several high profile clients including disgraced former tennis star Bob Hewitt on charges of rape. He also represented and successfully defended Paris Hilton on a dagga charge during her visit to South Africa during the soccer World Cup. The postponement of Panayiotou's bail application last week was down to Price not being available and his chosen stand in hadn't applied to be his substitute. Price has already shown signs that he will be scrutinising every aspect of the State's case.

6. Chanelle Coutts

The 26-year-old worked for Panayiotou at the OK Grocer store. Panayiotou admitted in court that they have been involved in an extra-marital affair for the past three years. The State is arguing that Panayiotou often bought expensive gifts for Coutts and battled to keep her and Jayde happy. She is thought to be an important witness.

7. Kanna Swanepoel

The investigating officer tasked with putting the case together. Swanepoel has been a detective in the SAPS for over 25 years. He submitted a 20-page affidavit to court detailing the State’s version of events. Swanepoel said that most of the allegations have been corroborated by vehicle satellite tracking and cellular telephone mapping. He said that other forensic investigations were ongoing. He said the State is asking that bail be denied on the basis that Panayiotou is a flight risk because his family owns property in Cyprus and that he has the ability to compromise the safety of witnesses and destroy evidence.

The matter will resume on Tuesday in front of Magistrate Abigail Beaton.

IOL

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