Panayiotou trial could pit prosecutor against ex-boss

THEY were previously on the same side – for years they prosecuted cases together – but now state advocate Marius Stander is preparing to go head-to-head with his former boss when the case against Christopher Panayiotou goes to trial later this year.

Advocate Hannelie Bakker, the former deputy director of public prosecutions (DDPP) in the Eastern Cape, shook Stander’s hand as he entered the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court yesterday ahead of a brief postponement.

Talks are under way for Bakker to join the team representing alleged hitman Sizwezakhe Vumazonke. Panayiotou is accused of hiring Vumazonke and Sinethemba Nenembe to kidnap and kill his wife, Jayde, almost a year ago.

Bakker worked for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for 28 years before resigning towards the end of 2014 to do her pupillage with the Eastern Cape Bar Council. She was one of the prosecutors responsible for the conviction of the two men who raped and stabbed Alison Botha in Port Elizabeth in December 1994.

Bakker was appointed DDPP in 2003 and oversaw Stander’s work for more than a decade.

Colleagues say the two made a formidable team.

Bakker sat to one side of the courtroom as Stander addressed Magistrate Esti Petzer yesterday.

He said while he was finally ready for the matter to be transferred to the Port Elizabeth High Court, there would now be a delay due to Nenembe wanting to apply for legal aid representation.

There was meanwhile no further talk of Panayiotou’s plans to bring yet another bail application on new facts – a possibility discussed at his previous court appearance.

As the one-year anniversary of Jayde’s death approaches this week, her family and friends gathered in court to show their support.

Sister Toni Inggs said they were still discussing how to commemorate her death on Thursday.

Facebook page Justice For Jayde Inggs has secured more than 15 000 followers.

Panayiotou’s family quietly filled most of the front row.

The case was accordingly postponed to May 3 for Nenembe’s legal aid representative to obtain copies of the docket.

Petzer said the case had been on the roll for a long time and she was not willing to entertain further delays.

She said the matter needed to be transferred to the Port Elizabeth High Court on May 3 for a pre-trial conference, after which a trial date would be arranged. —