No witnesses for Panayiotou

The trial involving murder accused Christopher Panayiotou, pictured, and his two co-accused hit a snag yesterday when the defence indicated they could not proceed due to the unavailability of witnesses.

Panayiotou’s defence has yet to present its case before the High Court in Port Elizabeth, but advocate Terry Price said some witnesses were not available and asked Judge Dayalin Chetty to postpone the matter.

Price said four witnesses would be called and he would, in all probability, wrap up his case early next week.

It is expected that the defence will call a family friend Anthony Emmit, Christopher’s cousin, Maurizio Bertolani, and the businessperson’s mistress, Chanelle Coutts.

The defence is also expected to call a cellular phone expert.

Price said accountant Wilma Van de Bergh would no longer be called as a defence witness.

In June, the prosecution closed its case against Panayiotou, Sinethemba Nenembe and Zolani Sibeko, who are charged with murdering school teacher Jayde Panayiotou, during April 2015.

State advocate Marius Stander called more than 40 witnesses during the duration of what has been a mammoth trial.

Panayiotou is accused of paying Luthando Siyoni, a bouncer from his Infinity nightclub, to hire Sizwe Vumazonke to kidnap and kill Jayde.

The schoolteacher was abducted while waiting for a lift to work and subsequently murdered on the outskirts of Kwanobuhle, on the way to Uitenhage.