Panayiotou gave wrong phone number, court told

CHRISTOPHER Panayiotou allegedly lied to the policeman investigating his wife’s murder‚ the Port Elizabeth High Court heard yesterday morning.

Sergeant Aldre Koen said he had asked the murder accused to furnish him with the number alleged middleman Luthando Siyoni contacted him from‚ but Panayiotou sent him a different number instead.

Warrant Officer Leon Eksteen also took the stand yesterday morning‚ explaining he had been friends with the Panayiotou family for about 16 years.

“Chris grew up in front of me. He would often phone me for advice.”

Eksteen was even invited to Jayde and Panayiotou’s wedding.

On April 21 last year‚ Panayiotou’s father‚ Costa‚ phoned Eksteen‚ asking for his help.

“He said Jayde was missing and they feared she had been abducted.”

Eksteen was in Graaff-Reinet at the time but said he would try and assist as soon as he got back to Port Elizabeth. He helped look for Jayde on April 21 and 22 in his personal capacity.

Then‚ investigating officer Captain Kanna Swanepoel asked if he would like to form part of the team investigating Jayde’s murder.

“He said I know Chris and he had now been implicated.”

The defence have previously accused Eksteen of playing the role of a double agent.

He returned to the stand yesterday afternoon. — TMG Digital