Panayiotou Bail Application Denied


By Chelsea-Summer Lodewyk    05-Jun-2015 21:10 UTC+02:00
Christopher Panayiotou in court Pic: BizNews

Christopher Panayiotou in court.
Pic: BizNews.

The Port Elizabeth Magistrates’ court has denied murder accused Christopher Panayiotou bail. The presiding Magistrate, Abigail Beeton said that Panayiotou and his legal team failed to show any plausible circumstances in which the defendant should receive bail. The Magistrate’s verdict was met with applause by those who were inside the courtroom.

28-year-old Panayiotou stands accused of ordering a hit on his wife, 29-year-old Jayde Panayiotou on the 21st of April this year.

Jayde was abducted outside her marital apartment in Uitenhage while waiting for a lift to work and was found a day later in an abandoned area, the Kwanobuhle township in Uitenhage.

Jayde was a teacher at the Riebeek College Girls’ High School in Uitenhage.

Panayiotou is said to have orchestrated the kidnapping, robbery, assault and brutal murder of his wife.

His bail hearing was filled with twists and turns, with the State announcing four star witnesses, including Christopher Panayiotou’s Mistress and his bouncer, who works at his Infiniti club in Port Elizabeth.

His bouncer, Thando Siyoli is said to have received R30,000 of the R70,000 which was paid for the hit from Panayiotou to be the middle man in the hit.

The National Prosecuting Authority says it is pleased with the court’s decision and says it is a step for justice in South Africa.

Jayde’s family says they are happy with the court’s decision.

Magistrate Abigail Beeton’s reasons for denial will be read into the court’s records next week, on the 12th of June.


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