Panayiotou’s ex-bouncer makes damning revelations

Christopher Panayiotou is accused of masterminding the murder of his schoolteacher wife, Jayde. AP Photo/Judy de Vega

Christopher Panayiotou is accused of masterminding the murder of his schoolteacher wife, Jayde. AP Photo/Judy de Vega

Published May 27, 2016

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Port Elizabeth - The bail hearing of murder accused Christopher Panayiotou, who is accused of hiring hit men to kill his wife Jade continues on Friday.

On Thursday a statement provided by a section 204 witness during the hearing sent Panayiotou’s lawyers into a tailspin.

Defence Advocate Terry Price said they “would work until midnight if they had to” in order to be ready for argument that would now have to be adjusted in light of what was revealed by Panayioutou’s former employee Luthando Siyoni.

The State submitted three affidavits, which forms part of its argument that no new facts have come to light in Panayiotou’s third bail attempt.

The Port Elizabeth businessman is alleged to have orchestrated his wife, Jayde’s kidnapping and subsequent murder during April last year.

It is alleged Panayiotou paid Siyoni, a bouncer at his Infinity night club, to hire hitman Sizwezakhe Vumazonke to kidnap and murder Jayde.

The State alleges that Sinethemba Nenembe assisted the alleged hitman Vumazonke to kidnap and kill Jayde, allegedly at the behest of her husband.

During court proceedings on Thursday, State Prosecutor Marius Stander submitted an affidavit from Siyoni, who revealed for the first time, that “he did not sign a statement as a result of any promises being made by anyone”.

Siyoni said that he was “forced to come to terms with reality” when he was arrested at the Infinity night club. He said he decided to speak the truth because he did not want to go down for Panayiotou’s actions.

Siyoni said that he was also looking out for his girlfriend, Babalwa, who had also been taken in for questioning by the polie. She was questioned in April last year.

“I was never prepared for this type of questioning, it was clear that the police had inside information … they were not fishing as they spoke straight to the point, there was no way I could lie,” Siyoni said.

Siyoni indicated that there was a scuffle when he was handcuffed, but added that at no time was he assaulted. He described himself as a proud man who did not like the idea of being handcuffed.

Price previously accused that State of “severely beating a confession” out of Siyoni.

The statement also revealed a damning conversation between Panayiotou and Siyoni, who was employed as a bouncer at the time.

“I spoke to Chris in person soon after his wife’s body was found. Chris told me that he was already investigated by the police and a possible suspect,” said Siyoni in his affidavit.

“This was the time that Chris told me to get rid of my sim card and cell phone and he gave me R1,000.

“Chris told me to tell the police in the event of the police asking me, that our dealings were only work related and that he was helping me with a gym, the truth was that Chris never helped me with a gym.

“Chris was adamant that police must not find out about any dealings between myself and him … bearing in mind that there was a real possibility that the police may pay me a visit asking questions.

“I also had the same type of conversation with Sizwe, where he said that I was the only connection between him and Chris, and I must be prepared should the police pay me a visit. All along I realised that a visit from the police was a real possibility,” said Siyoni.

Investigating Officer Kanna Swanepoel made similar claims in his affidavit and said that Siyoni agreed to co-operate with the police. He said at no stage was Siyoni assaulted or tortured to compel him to confess his involvement in the murder.

However, Price pointed out that many times before “not a single word” came from the State in denying that Siyoni was assaulted.

“In motion proceedings that means that they have conceded it. Now all of a sudden when we start pointing out to them in the very police docket they gave us, where their own police officers say he was assaulted … suddenly [they say] he wasn’t assaulted,” said Price.

Meanwhile, Stander also submitted an affidavit by IT technician and close family friend of the Panayiotou’s, Donovan Vosloo who is a State witness.

In his affidavit Vosloo said that he was approached by the investigating officer Lieutenant Kanna Swanepoel at the Grahamstown High Court during the time in which Panayiotou brought an application to appeal the decision by Magistrate Abigail Beeton not to grant him bail.

Vosloo said: “I was approached in the passages by Lietenunt Swanepoel who informed me that he had received information that I was responsible for the so called wiping of the cell phones of [Panayiotou’s], Chanelle Coutts and Clarishka Kapp.

“He inquired from me if I was willing to make a statement. I immediately informed Swanepoel that I did not wish to make a statement and I needed to seek legal advice.”

Vosloo, a local Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) IT technician, had reportedly upgraded both phones, effectively wiping out both handsets of any data, just days after Jayde Panayiotou’s body had been discovered.

The police’s cyber crime unit was subsequently unable to retrieve any cellphone data and experts from abroad were eventually jetted in to assist.

“I only accompanied my father out of moral support for him and the family, who I have known for years. To the best of my knowledge I was not involved in the case at all. To my knowledge I was not a witness and not asked as much as a question relating to my involvement in the matter,” said Vosloo.

The matter is expected to resume at 11:15am on Friday.

African News Agency

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