Panayiotou case to be transferred to High Court

Panayiotou and his two co-accused, Sizwezakhe Vumazonke and Sinethemba Nenembe, are expected back in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday in connection with the school teacher’s murder.

She was killed in April last year. Her body was found outside Kwanobuhle township in Uitenhage.

The state alleges that Nenembe assisted alleged hitman Vumazonke to kidnap and kill Jayde at the behest of her husband, Christopher Panayiotou.

Last month State Prosecutor Marius Stander said the state wanted to transfer the matter to the Port Elizabeth High Court, but this was being delayed by Nenembe having obtained new legal representation.

Stander requested Nenembe’s new attorney to provide him with a hard drive so that copies of the docket could be transferred to it, giving him time to prepare for a pre-trial conference set to take place at the High Court.

Magistrate Esti Petzer warned that she would no longer tolerate any postponements.

“This case has been on the roll for a long period of time, since April 2015. You appointed Mr Daubermann and at this stage when the case is actually ready to be transferred to the high court, at this last minute, you no longer wish to have Mr Daubermann due to funds,” said Petzer.

“It is your right to have legal representations, but this court will no longer tolerate any further remands from your side.”

Meanwhile, the DA Women’s Network (DAWN) are expected to hold a silent picket outside the Port Elizabeth magistrate’s court on Tuesday.

The DA’s Celeste Barker said the group intends to raise awareness around the impact of gender violence on women and their families.

“It is a sad fact that despite our country’s incredible constitution, South African women continue to bear the brunt of an out of control scourge of gender violence,” said Barker.

In January, the court heard that Panayiotou was likely to stand trial in July.

Panayiotou was initially denied bail in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court and then again in the Grahamstown High Court when he appealed that decision.

It previously emerged that Panayiotou’s lawyers would bring forward a bail application based on new facts. No further details around this has since emerged.

The case made headlines after Panayiotou was arrested just days after his wife’s body was found dumped in Uitenhage.

The schoolteacher was allegedly abducted outside her home while waiting for an early morning lift to work. The State alleges her husband had her killed because she was a “financial burden”.

She was reportedly hit on the head and placed in the boot of her abductor’s car. She was then apparently shot at close range – twice in the back and once in the head.