The magistrate presiding over the bail hearing of Christopher Panayiotou on Wednesday was angered by the confusion surrounding who was representing him.
Panayiotou stands accused in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court of orchestrating the abduction and murder of his 29-year-old wife‚ Jayde.
He began his bail application last week‚ during which advocate Terry Price read out an affidavit in which Christopher Panayiotou protested his innocence.
Magistrate Abigail Beaton on Wednesday stood the matter down until noon after the murder-accused said he would prefer to have Price‚ who did not pitch up in court‚ appearing for him.
She said that what was happening was "unethical" as no one had "yet apologised for Mr Price not being here"‚ Herald Live reported.
She gave his legal team until noon to find out where Price was and if he was available to appear in court.
She had earlier berated the defence for stalling for time.
The court had earlier adjourned when Christopher Panayiotou told the magistrate he wanted to confer with his legal team.
During this break‚ a brief tussle started when some Democratic Alliance supporters tried to take seats on the front row of the public gallery which was occupied by memebers of Christopher Panayiotou’s family.
The blue T-shirt-wearing protestors also had a run-in with what were believed to be Afriforum members.
Jayde was abducted on April 21 outside the Kabega townhouse at complex where they lived while waiting for a friend to collect her for work.
Her body was found the next day on a farm in Rocklands. She had been shot three times.
Luthando Siyoli‚ 31‚ and Sizwezakhe Vumazonke‚ 30‚ are Panayiotou’s co-accused.
Panayiotou‚ 28‚ faces charges of murder‚ conspiracy to commit murder‚ kidnapping and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
At the start of his bail application last week‚ Christopher Panayiotou claimed in an that he and Jayde were very much in love.
On Tuesday‚ it emerged that Chanelle Coutts‚ alleged to have had an affair with Christopher Panayiotou‚ has not turned state witness.
Some media outlets speculated that Coutts would be called on Wednesday as a witness‚ but others said prosecutor Marius Stander will merely read out a statement outlining the case against Christopher Panayiotou.
Stander will be opposing bail‚ and should this be denied‚ Christopher Panayiotou will be returned to the notorious St Alban’s Prison.
Lawyer David Dadic‚ who commented widely on the Oscar Pistorius case‚ tweeted on Wednesday: ?"So today we hear the state’s case against #Panayiotou & particularly the elusive motive. Seems the affair is the crux (which seems weak to me)".
Port Elizabeth attorney Danie Gouws‚ who represents Coutts‚ told The Herald that Coutts has not turned state witness but has sought legal representation in the lead-up to the state presenting its evidence in Panayiotou’s bail application.
Gouws said reports that Coutts had turned state witness were not true.
Earlier this week‚ it emerged Coutts‚ 26‚ a manager Panayiotou’s OK Grocer in Algoa Park‚ has been booked off work for stress.
Gouws said allegations were flying around following the murder of Panayiotou’s wife‚ Jayde.
He has applied for bail and will be back in court tomorrow.
The Herald reported on Wednesday that it appears to be business as usual for Christopher Panayiotou as a new company he registered earlier this year is seeking permission to obtain slot machines and a bookmaker licence.
Angry magistrate delays Panayiotou bail hearing
Panayiotou stands accused in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court of orchestrating the abduction and murder of his 29-year-old wife‚ Jayde.
He began his bail application last week‚ during which advocate Terry Price read out an affidavit in which Christopher Panayiotou protested his innocence.
Magistrate Abigail Beaton on Wednesday stood the matter down until noon after the murder-accused said he would prefer to have Price‚ who did not pitch up in court‚ appearing for him.
She said that what was happening was "unethical" as no one had "yet apologised for Mr Price not being here"‚ Herald Live reported.
She gave his legal team until noon to find out where Price was and if he was available to appear in court.
She had earlier berated the defence for stalling for time.
The court had earlier adjourned when Christopher Panayiotou told the magistrate he wanted to confer with his legal team.
During this break‚ a brief tussle started when some Democratic Alliance supporters tried to take seats on the front row of the public gallery which was occupied by memebers of Christopher Panayiotou’s family.
The blue T-shirt-wearing protestors also had a run-in with what were believed to be Afriforum members.
Jayde was abducted on April 21 outside the Kabega townhouse at complex where they lived while waiting for a friend to collect her for work.
Her body was found the next day on a farm in Rocklands. She had been shot three times.
Luthando Siyoli‚ 31‚ and Sizwezakhe Vumazonke‚ 30‚ are Panayiotou’s co-accused.
Panayiotou‚ 28‚ faces charges of murder‚ conspiracy to commit murder‚ kidnapping and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
At the start of his bail application last week‚ Christopher Panayiotou claimed in an that he and Jayde were very much in love.
On Tuesday‚ it emerged that Chanelle Coutts‚ alleged to have had an affair with Christopher Panayiotou‚ has not turned state witness.
Some media outlets speculated that Coutts would be called on Wednesday as a witness‚ but others said prosecutor Marius Stander will merely read out a statement outlining the case against Christopher Panayiotou.
Stander will be opposing bail‚ and should this be denied‚ Christopher Panayiotou will be returned to the notorious St Alban’s Prison.
Lawyer David Dadic‚ who commented widely on the Oscar Pistorius case‚ tweeted on Wednesday: ?"So today we hear the state’s case against #Panayiotou & particularly the elusive motive. Seems the affair is the crux (which seems weak to me)".
Port Elizabeth attorney Danie Gouws‚ who represents Coutts‚ told The Herald that Coutts has not turned state witness but has sought legal representation in the lead-up to the state presenting its evidence in Panayiotou’s bail application.
Gouws said reports that Coutts had turned state witness were not true.
Earlier this week‚ it emerged Coutts‚ 26‚ a manager Panayiotou’s OK Grocer in Algoa Park‚ has been booked off work for stress.
Gouws said allegations were flying around following the murder of Panayiotou’s wife‚ Jayde.
He has applied for bail and will be back in court tomorrow.
The Herald reported on Wednesday that it appears to be business as usual for Christopher Panayiotou as a new company he registered earlier this year is seeking permission to obtain slot machines and a bookmaker licence.
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