Final State witness called in Jayde case

THE prosecution yesterday closed its case in the murder trial of Christopher Panayiotou and his two co-accused in the Port Elizabeth High Court.

It was expected that the State would call investigating officer Captain Kanna Swanepoel to the stand.

Instead, Warrant Officer Shane Bosch from the organised crime unit was called as final witness.

Bosch was responsible for the arrest of Zolani Sibeko in July last year.

Under cross-examination, attorney Peter Daubermann referred to Sibeko’s arrest at his parental home in Greenbushes.

Bosch told the court that when he arrested Sibeko in connection with Jayde Panayiotou’s murder, the young man “appeared shocked”.

Bosch said he informed Sibeko of his rights, including his right to an attorney, but he did not respond.

However, Daubermann was adamant that Bosch did not give Sibeko the opportunity to contact a lawyer.

“I informed him of his right to an attorney. I was arresting him for a serious charge and I assume if he wanted one he would say something.”

Bosch also told the court that after arresting Sibeko he handed him over to Swanepoel and proceeded to search for his cellphone in a bedroom.

He said an elderly lady in the room turned around and flashed open her night gown, saying she had “nothing to hide”.

But Bosch then saw a cellphone light flash and the woman was asked to produce the phone.

Daubermann also placed a map before the court that showed how Sibeko would have to travel down Cape Road, past Jayde’s residence to get to his home in Greenbushes.

Cellphone plotting earlier placed before court showed how Sibeko was in the vicinity of Jayde’s home in the days before her kidnapping and murder.

The schoolteacher was abducted while waiting for a lift to work and murdered on the outskirts of Kwanobhule during April 2015.

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

The State alleges that Sinethemba Nenembe assisted Vumazonke to kidnap and murder the teacher at the behest of her husband. Vumazonke has since died. The case was postponed until tomorrow. – ANA

Picture: SPANISH AIR FORCE VIA AP THREAT: A Spanish firefighting plane flies over fires in the Moguer area of southern Spain. A forest fire has forced the evacuation of 1 000 people and is threatening Do ana National Park, one of Spain’s most important nature reserves and a Unesco...