Who's who: What you need to know about the Jade Panayiotou murder trial

The highly anticipated trial of the Jayde Panayiotou murder suspects starts on Tuesday in the Port Elizabeth High Court.

The killing of the Uitenhage teacher and subsequent investigation has gripped the country for the past 18 months. On Tuesday‚ the matter comes to a head in the High Court as her husband Christopher stands trial.

The Victim:

Jayde Panayiotou

Jayde, who taught Grades 4 to 7 at Riebeek College Girls' High School in Uitenhage, was abducted by two men from outside her Kabega Park home on April 21 while she was waiting for a lift. Money was withdrawn from her bank account at an ATM in KwaNobuhle. Her body was found 40km away the next day, lying on open ground.

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The Suspects:

Christopher Panayiotou

The Port Elizabeth businessman claims he was still asleep inside their Kabega Park townhouse‚ none the wiser‚ when at least two men shoved Jayde into the boot of a car and drove her to KwaNobuhle‚ outside Uitenhage‚ where she was executed.

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Sinethemba Nemembe

Nemembe is alleged to have driven the car which was used to abduct Jayde.

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Sizwezakhe Vumazonke

Vumazonke, 30, was allegedly hired by Christopher to kidnap and murder Jayde in April last year. The alleged triggerman was admitted to hospital from St Albans Prison on August 25 after he said he was so ill he could barely stand. He later died. The State is waiting on the results of a toxicology report.

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Luthando Siyoni

The 31-year-old worked as a bouncer at Christopher Panayiotou’s Infinity Cocktail Bar in Algoa Park and was allegedly approached by Panayiotou who inquired whether he could have a person killed on his behalf. Siyoni was arrested a week after Jayde’s murder and supplied detectives with an alleged step-by-step version of events which turned their focus on Panayiotou.

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Zolani Sibeko

Of all the suspects‚ the least is known about Zolani Sibeko. Sibeko has been charged as a co-conspirator and it is not yet known if he was present when Jayde was shot.

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The Lawyers, the Witnesses and the Charges

The state faces a tough task as it sets out to prove how the hit on Jayde Panayiotou was carried out‚ while the defence will attack the credibility of the state’s evidence.

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