Closing arguments are expected in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court in the bail application of Christopher Panayiotou‚ who is accused of hiring two men to kill his wife Jayde.
The Herald reported on Monday that Panayiotou’s high-powered legal team is expected to go all-out during his trial to get damning evidence recorded during the sting operation that led to his arrest thrown out.
A senior lawyer on the team also alleged there was evidence that one of Panayiotou’s co-accused‚ Thando Siyoli‚ 31‚ was beaten up by police after his arrest.
It had been earlier claimed that the third accused‚ alleged hitman Sizwezakhe Vumazonke‚ had been beaten to extract a confession.
Siyoli is believed to have been a bouncer at Panayiotou’s Infinity Bar. He has been reported to have turned state witness.
The recording of Panayiotou and Siyoli was made on April 29 when they met at an unknown location.
In it‚ Panayiotou appears distressed that the killers botched the job by not taking removing any of Jayde’s personal belongings‚ so it didn’t appear like a robbery.
“They just left everything there‚ you see‚ so it looks like a hit now. So they are after me‚ and that’s why I can’t just meet you in front of people like this Thando‚” he is quoted as saying.
He also urged Siyoli to his destroy phone and Sim cards‚ and go into hiding some for time.
Jayde: damning evidence targeted
The Herald reported on Monday that Panayiotou’s high-powered legal team is expected to go all-out during his trial to get damning evidence recorded during the sting operation that led to his arrest thrown out.
A senior lawyer on the team also alleged there was evidence that one of Panayiotou’s co-accused‚ Thando Siyoli‚ 31‚ was beaten up by police after his arrest.
It had been earlier claimed that the third accused‚ alleged hitman Sizwezakhe Vumazonke‚ had been beaten to extract a confession.
Siyoli is believed to have been a bouncer at Panayiotou’s Infinity Bar. He has been reported to have turned state witness.
The recording of Panayiotou and Siyoli was made on April 29 when they met at an unknown location.
In it‚ Panayiotou appears distressed that the killers botched the job by not taking removing any of Jayde’s personal belongings‚ so it didn’t appear like a robbery.
“They just left everything there‚ you see‚ so it looks like a hit now. So they are after me‚ and that’s why I can’t just meet you in front of people like this Thando‚” he is quoted as saying.
He also urged Siyoli to his destroy phone and Sim cards‚ and go into hiding some for time.
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