Magistrate Abigail Beeton is expected to announce her decision on whether or not murder-accused Christopher Panayiotou will be granted bail on Thursday at the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court. Panayiotou, 28, is accused of being the mastermind behind the murder of his wife Jayde on April 21.

He faces charges of conspiracy to commit murder, murder‚ kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances and defeating the ends of justice. Thando Siyoli‚ 31‚ and Sizwezakhe Vumazonke‚ 30‚ are his co-accused. Panayiotou was arrested on April 29.

During the bail application, the court heard how Jayde was kidnapped while waiting for her lift to the school where she taught. She had been standing outside the townhouse complex in Kabega Park where she stayed with Panayiotou.

She was hit over the head with blunt force, kidnapped, bundled into the boot of a hired vehicle and driven out to a deserted area. She was then shot three times, twice in the back and once, at close range, to the head.

The court had also heard through evidence submitted by State Prosecutor, Marius Stander, that there were previous failed attempts on Jayde’s life before, dating as far back as last year September.

Transcript

The State also made available a transcript of a conversation between Siyoli, who is believed to have been the middle man, and Panayiotou, where they discuss the circumstances around Jayde’s death and where Panayiotou gives Siyoli R5 000 to disappear.

Panayiotou’s extra-marital affair with Chanelle Coutts, 26, an assistant manager at his OK Grocer in Algoa Park was also revealed in court.

The State argued that the motive for the murder was because Panayiotou was unable to maintain his lifestyle and both women at the same time, as he was increasingly finding himself in debt.

Panayiotou admitted the affair, but said that it had not impacted on his marriage. He is currently being held at the St Albans holding cells.