Conversation between 'middleman' and Panayiotou read out in court

A recording in which “middleman” Luthando Siyoni was instructed by police to phone murder accused Christopher Panayiotou and get him to implicate himself‚ was transcribed and read to the Port Elizabeth High Court on Friday morning.

Siyoni‚ 36‚ declared a hostile witness on Thursday for refusing to answer state advocate Marius Stander’s questions‚ returned to court on Friday with a decision to answer all questions from defence advocate Terry Price SC.

On April 28 last year‚ a day after Siyoni confessed to police about his alleged involvement in teacher Jayde Panayiotou’s murder‚ members of the Organised Crime Unit told the bouncer to phone Panayiotou and get him to implicate himself.

Siyoni claimed in court he was assaulted and threatened by police.

In an attempt to back up Siyoni’s version‚ Price read out extracts of the recording by Warrant Officer Leon Eksteen‚ also a friend of Panayiotou’s at the time.

A male voice tells Siyoni: “You have one last chance‚ this is the last call you are going to make.”

A female voice then threatens him with possibly going to St Albans Prison.

Testimony continues.