Panayiotou to apply for bail on Thursday

14 May 2015 - 10:55 By RDM News Wire

Christopher Panayiotou‚ the man who allegedly orchestrated his wife Jayde’s abduction and murder three weeks ago‚ is expected to make a formal application for bail when he returns to court on Thursday. Panayiotou‚ 28‚ has been in custody since April 29 after his arrest in Uitenhage for allegedly paying men to abduct his wife from their Kabega Park townhouse complex and murder her.He was expected to apply for bail at his first court appearance on May 4‚ but his attorney Alwyn Griebenow said they would be applying when the case resumed.Reports ahead of his last appearance claimed he was having an affair with 26-year-old Chanelle Coutts.At around the same time‚ a bouncer from his pub was said to have concluded a plea deal with police that involved the operation to catch Panayiotou for orchestrating his wife's killing.Bouncer Thando Siyoli‚ who was arrested by police acting on a tip-off‚ gave detectives a step-by-step recap of the plot. He claimed Panayiotou had paid him to have Jayde killed.After agreeing to turn state witness and set up the sting‚ Siyoli is said to have contacted Panayiotou‚ demanding more money due to the "hype" around the murder.A meeting was set up in Uitenhage on Wednesday and the money was paid over to Siyoli‚ witnessed by undercover police.Panayiotou was later arrested.The third suspect‚ said to be the hit man‚ was also arrested later.When Sizwezakhe Vumazonke made a brief appearance in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court‚ he claimed he had been assaulted by police.His case was postponed to 19 June. - The Herald/RDM News wire..

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