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Bouncer allegedly hired to kill Jayde for R30000

MANY CHARGES: Christopher Panayiotou, one of the three people arrested over the murder of his wife Jayde, appeared in court yesterday Photo: Mike Holmes
MANY CHARGES: Christopher Panayiotou, one of the three people arrested over the murder of his wife Jayde, appeared in court yesterday Photo: Mike Holmes

THE club bouncer who was allegedly hired to find a hitman to kill Eastern Cape teacher Jayde Panayiotou was paid R30000 for his services.

Details surrounding the payment emerged as Panayiotou's husband, Christopher, yesterday appeared in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate's Court charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, kidnapping and robbery with aggravated circumstances.

A third man will appear in court today.

Yesterday, police sources said a total of R30000 was paid to alleged middleman and Infinity bouncer Luthando Siyoli, 31.

The money was found and confiscated by police when they raided Siyoli's Kwazakhele, Port Elizabeth, home and arrested him.

Brigadier Marinda Mills confirmed the latest arrest : "A third suspect, a 30-year-old male, was arrested [on Sunday] in New Brighton and he will appear in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate's Court tomorrow.

"This brings the total number of suspects arrested so far in the case to three," she said.

"The investigation team is working around the clock and more arrests are not excluded."

State advocate Marius Stander read out the charges Panayiotou will face from a charge sheet in front of him and defence attorney Alwyn Griebenow confirmed the charges.

Both parties agreed that the case be postponed to June 19 for further investigation.

Panayiotou was then led back to the cells.

No formal bail application was brought before the court and Panayiotou was not asked to plead.

"We will take steps towards a formal bail application at a later stage," Griebenow said.

"For now we got a copy of the charge sheet. Now that we know what the charges are against my client we can start working on how we will approach the case."

Stander declined to comment.

Outside court a number of organisations protested against bail.

Nelson Mandela Bay Ratepayers Association chairman and local Afriforum leader Kobus Gerber entered the court with a noose before proceedings started, but was told by a court orderly to leave before Panayiotou arrived.

"We would support the death penalty if it was an option. So now we support the denial of bail.

"Too many people who commit serious offences are released on bail, only to break the law again. We need to prevent that, and denying bail is the only way."

The DA Women's Network (Dawn) formed a small crowd outside the court, also waving posters asking for bail to be denied.

"We are here in support of justice for Jayde ... Our presence here is symbolic of our fight for women's rights," said Dawn's Celeste Barker.

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