Jayde: big guns for bail appeal bid

Leading celebrity advocate called in to help free Christopher Panayiotou

LAWYERS for murder accused Christopher Panayiotou, 28, will be bringing out the big guns in the form of celebrity advocate Mike Hellens SC in efforts to see their client freed on bail. Advocate Terry Price SC said yesterday he and his team were bringing Hellens on board to appeal the bail decision made by magistrate Abigail Beeton – a decision he said was “factually inaccurate”.

Panayiotou is awaiting trial after his arrest in connection with the murder of his wife, Jayde, 29.

Giving reasons for refusing bail, Beeton cited Panayiotou’s lack of disclosure about a Cypriot passport he held, an inclination to destroy evidence, concerns that he would interfere with witnesses and his financial situation.

“We will be bringing in a very senior advocate, Mike Hellens, from Johannesburg as we were shocked by the judgment,” Price said.

Hellens, who has held a position as an acting judge, represented Czech fugitive Radovan Krejcir, murdered mining mogul Brett Kebble and former Fidentia boss J Arthur Brown.

Price said they were waiting for the judgment to be typed and planned to bring the application between June 24 and 26.

They were still deciding whether to approach the Port Elizabeth or Grahamstown High Court.

Price said Panayiotou’s family were becoming increasingly concerned with the threats he was receiving, threats which had extended to Price.

He said despite the threats his client was doing “surprisingly well”.

“He is a strong guy who is being strong for his parents who are devastated.”

When asked whether Panayiotou’s legal team would be appealing on new facts, Price said: “We will largely be appealing based on the fact that the judgment was incorrect, but we may attempt to place new evidence [before the court].”

Price said Beeton had asked senior public prosecutor Marius Stander how strong his case was, a question that “led to irrelevant and inadmissible opinion evidence” being used by Beeton to make her decision. “We will look at what Stander said and challenge that,” Price said, adding that the prosecutor would need to back up his claims about evidence.

Jayde was abducted outside her Kabega Park townhouse complex at about 6.30am on April 21 while waiting for a lift to work. Her body was found the next day.

Panayiotou is suspected of paying Luthando Siyoli, 31, a large sum of money to organise someone to murder his wife.

Siyoli, in turn, allegedly hired Sizwezakhe Vumazonke, 30, to carry out the hit.