GUILTY South Africa - Jayde Panayiotou, 28, Port Elizabeth, 21 April 2015

[Estelle]

Panayiotou fails in new High Court bid December 9, 2015

No need for police to show hand, judge rules over docket

THE trial of murder accused Christopher Panayiotou is likely to start in the second half of next year, it emerged yesterday when his legal team were denied copies of the police docket.

Panayiotou, 28, who has lodged two failed attempts at bail, is accused of orchestrating the murder of his wife, schoolteacher Jayde, in April. He has pleaded not guilty. In a judgment yesterday, Port Elizabeth High Court Judge John Smith said: “His [Panayiotou’s] assertion that the refusal impacts his constitutional right to a fair trial is at best speculative.

“In addition, very little is said in the applicant’s papers to justify his request on this ground.

http://www.heraldlive.co.za/panayiotou-fails-new-high-court-bid/

 

[OkieGranny]

Earlier this month:

http://www.timeslive.co.za/thetimes/2016/01/12/Bail-bid-for-Jayde-murder-accused

In another surprising twist yesterday, state advocate Marius Stander said the matter could go to trial in the Port Elizabeth High Court as soon as July.

Stander said the Department of Homeland Security in the US had received their request for legal assistance in retrieving the cellphone data Panayiotou allegedly had wiped from his phone, as well as the phone of his mistress Chanelle Coutts, shortly after 29-year-old Jayde's murder.

The case was postponed to March 11 for further investigation.

 

[Deleted member 102539]

http://ewn.co.za/2016/03/11/Panayiotou-murder-NPA-waiting-on-cellphone-records-from-US

NPA spokesperson Tsepo Ndwalaza says, “The matter was postponed to 18 April 2016 for two reasons; the prosecution is waiting for cellphone information from the USA, and the other reason is that we are waiting for the financial information of the first accused, Christopher Panayiotou.”

The accused will return to court almost exactly a year since the 29-year-old teacher’s body was found.

 

[PrimeSuspect]

NO DATE SET FOR PANAYIOTOU'S THIRD BAIL BID

CAPE TOWN - Alleged wife-killer Christopher Panayiotou’s defence team says they’ve not yet decided on a date to apply for bail.
If an application is submitted, it'll be Panayiotou’s third bail attempt.
The businessman’s lawyers claim they’ve secured new evidence in the murder case and may approach the Port Elizabeth Magistrates Court at a later stage.

http://ewn.co.za/2016/04/05/No-date-set-for-Panayiotous-third-bail-bid

 

[0101ABA]

Murder accused Christopher Panayiotou and his co-accused will stand trial in the Port Elizabeth High Court in October this year.

(...)

The murder case against Panayiotou and his co-accused Sizwezakhe Vumazonke and Sinethemba Nenembe was transferred to the Port Elizabeth High Court today.

A pre-trial conference has been scheduled for 26 July.

The trial expected to start on 3 October.

http://ewn.co.za/2016/05/16/Panayiotou-co-accused-to-stand-trial-in-October

 

[OkieGranny]

From May:

http://www.heraldlive.co.za/jayde-hide-much/

In a heart-breaking note, seen exclusively by The Herald, which now forms part of the state’s case against Jayde’s husband, Christopher, 30, the young Riebeek College teacher agonises over his lack of affection, his secretiveness and long working hours.

She said she longed to be loved. In an almost child-like handwriting, Jayde wrote: “Where do I turn to? Nobody to talk to"...

Jayde’s mother, Michelle Inggs, and younger sister, Toni, clung to each other and cried as details emerged of how the pretty 29-year-old had been hit on the head and shoved in the boot of a car, her fingers crushed as the boot was slammed shut.

Her abductors then drove to an open field in KwaNobuhle township, where they shot her three times.

From June:

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/panayiotou-denied-leave-to-apply-for-bail-again-20160624

Christopher Panayiotou will remain behind bars until his trial, after the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court on Friday denied him leave to submit a second bail application...

The trial was scheduled to begin on October 10.

 

[JudgeJudi]

Christopher Panayiotou and 2 co-accused are on trial in Port Elizabeth, South Africa on charges of conspiring, kidnapping, robbing with aggravating circumstances and killing Panayiotou’s wife Jayde. A further accused, the alleged hitman, died in prison last month from unknown causes.

CP owns/part owns several businesses in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The motive is that he had been having an affair for years with one of his employees, Chanelle Coutts, and that he couldn’t afford to maintain both his wife and mistress. Several weeks before the murder, CP purchased an expensive home for Jayde for R2.2m but it was registered in his name only.

Jayde was abducted outside her home in Port Elizabeth while she waited for her lift to work. Her body was found the next day. She had been shot three times. CP was arrested for allegedly orchestrating her murder. He allegedly asked a bouncer at the Infinity Cocktail Bar, owned by CP, to hire a hitman to kill her. The bouncer, Luthando Siyoni and the mistress, Chanelle Coutts, have both turned State witnesses.

A comprehensive background to the case can be found here:
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/state-maps-out-panayiotous-murder-plan-20161011

Further articles:
http://www.news24.com/Tags/People/christopher_panayiotou

The State’s key witnesses:
http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/20...itnesses-in-the-Jayde-Panayiotou-murder-trial

News24 South Africa is reporting live from the courtroom in Port Elizabeth. Court starts at 9:30 South Africa time.

 

[JudgeJudi]

The link for today,Tuesday, 25 October live from the courtroom.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/live-panayiotou-murder-trial-day-10-20161025

 

[JudgeJudi]

An investigator with over 30 years’ experience in the SAPS claims CP "put a plan in operation" to kill his wife Jayde.

Rhrynhardt "Kanna" Swanepoel filed a 20-page affidavit detailing CP’s plan of action and a conversation between CP and co-accused Luthando Siyoli a week after Jayde’s body was found in a field.

Read the full affidavit here: Sworn Affidavit

CP’s bail affidavit can be found at the right of the screen in the above link.

https://www.scribd.com/doc/266138006/Sworn-Affidavit

 

[JudgeJudi]

Court is in session.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/live-panayiotou-trial-continues-20161026-2

 

[JudgeJudi]

Judge Chetty has a wealth of experience, unlike another SA High Court judge who shall remain nameless.

http://www.heraldlive.co.za/panayiotou-rolepayers/2016/10/11/judge-dayalin-chetty/

 

[PrimeSuspect]

:tyou: JJ for news and courtroom proceedings in Panayiotou and accomplices trial. Another psychopath treating a woman as disposable rubbish. Reminds me of Dewani, who I believe got away with murder. P won't have such luck!

Note: seems like one suspect (Siyoni) was beaten by police? I can't imagine a swollen jaw, eyelid swollen shut happened after getting into the vehicle? :thinking:

 

[JudgeJudi]

A section 204 witness is one who is given an indemnity from prosecution if he tells the truth while testifying against the accused and in doing so incriminates himself. His evidence cannot be used by the police if they subsequently charge the witness with the offence. The police must use their own evidence to secure a conviction.

 

[JudgeJudi]

Hi Prime, it's so nice to meet up again. And hello to you too Estelle. It's a shame we can't get more people to follow this trial. There's quite a lot to it.

 

[JudgeJudi]

I'm uncertain why Stander hasn't declared Breakfast a hostile witness. Price will be loving all these denials she's making.

When a witness is forced to testify against their will, this is the result you see here. However, I'm not saying this is what we're seeing here. Stander may have a very good reason for continuing but we'll have to wait until she's finished.

 

[JudgeJudi]

On the face of it, it would appear that she's denying everything in order to protect her boyfriend, the middleman, Siyoni, however Siyoni will be testifying for the State. In the alternative, the SAPS have made up a version of their own and she's signed her affidavit without reading it or having it read back to her.

 

[PrimeSuspect]

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Slain-teachers-husband-pays-moving-tribute-to-her-20150428

Part of CP's tribute to Jayde before he was arrested for her murder.

“I was honoured to be with her for the last 11 years and I am staggered by her sudden passing.

“She made me feel like the luckiest man alive and I never quite figured out why she gave her heart to me.

Just reading all his bs at Jayde's funeral makes me angry. Even the eulogy was stolen, this man hasn't a decent bone in his body. I wonder if Jayde had a 'feeling' about him.

 

[JudgeJudi]

RSBM

Just reading all his bs at Jayde's funeral makes me angry. Even the eulogy was stolen, this man hasn't a decent bone in his body. I wonder if Jayde had a 'feeling' about him.

I was angry about the stolen eulogy too. It just goes to show he didn't care about her because if he did, the words would have come naturally to him.

From all I've read, I have a feeling that she didn't suspect him of anything. Her sister didn't have any idea either in spite of Jayde confiding in her how lonely she was. I'm hoping the phone records, if nothing else, will prove his guilt and that he's locked up for a very long time.

 

[JudgeJudi]

What happened yesterday, 26 October.

http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/panayiotou-trial-key-witness-denies-damning-statement-2084033


I’ve read that there will be a trial within a trial in this matter. The following explains why this will happen and its significance.

State Prosecutor Marius Stander indicated that if the accused are found guilty of murder, they face a possibility of life imprisonment. On a count of robbery with aggravating circumstances they could each face up to 15 years behind bars.

In reading out CP’s plea explanation, Advocate Terry Price said that his client’s right to a fair trial had been “trashed by the State”, by way of police obtaining evidence “unlawfully” through Siyoni.

Price is requesting a trial within a trial to take place. He said, “Siyoni was assaulted and arrested unlawfully, therefore all the evidence given by Siyoni is inadmissible and should not be used by this court”.

http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-cou...-attacks-state-as-murder-trial-begins-2078555

It is now clear how devastating the testimony of key State witness, Babalwa Breakfast, Siyoni’s girlfriend, was yesterday. If Siyoni’s testimony is ruled inadmissible as a result of the trial within a trial, the State will have lost two of their most important witnesses.

 

[JudgeJudi]

A lovely photo to remember her by.

From Google images