By Andria Kades
Cypriot husband of murdered South African Jayde Panayiotou is in police custody after he was arrested as a suspect for orchestrating his wife’s murder according to South African news Times Live.
Christopher Panayiotou, 28, was also allegedly having an affair with his supermarket manager, 26-year-old Channelle Couts who has been questioned about her relationship with Panayiotou. Eyewitnesses said the businessman and Coutts were often seen together and said to be “very affectionate”.
His wife, Jayde, a teacher at Riebeek College Girls’ High School in Uitenhage, was abducted by two men from outside her home at about 6.30am on April 21 while she was waiting for a lift. Money was withdrawn from her bank account at an ATM in KwaNobuhle and her body was found 40km away the next day, lying on open ground.
Authorities have also arrested a 30-year-old male who is suspected to be the gunman and Thando Siyoli, a bouncer from Panayiotou’s pub who claims he was paid to kill Jayde Panayiotou.
After the murder was heavily publicised, he contacted the husband demanding more money which he received on Wednesday, witnessed by undercover police.
Police launched a massive sting operation to arrest Panayiotou’s husband on Thursday night at his parents’ home in Uitenhage. During his wife’s funeral undercover policemen were monitoring his every move pretending to be mourners.
Panayiotou’s lawyer, Alwyn Griebenow denied his client was arrested after a sting operation and was unaware of claims that he had been having an affair.
“He is obviously distraught. He doesn’t know what to expect. He has never been in a situation like this, he has never been arrested before. So yes, he is not doing that well,” Griebenow said according to Times Live.
Jayde’s sister, Toni Inggs, refused to speak to the media after Panayiotou’s arrest while his family were “devastated and shocked” by his arrest. His uncle Peter Becker said “this whole situation is just so unreal. When we got the news of his arrest, his father almost collapsed.”
“”We believe that whoever is responsible, regardless of who it is, needs to be dealt with by the justice system. The law must follow its course and whoever is guilty must pay,” he added.
Local police have confirmed they are trying to find a third suspect, believed to be the gunman who may be linked to another case from two months ago.
Reports said that the ‘moving’ eulogy Panayiotou gave at his wife’s funeral was “glaringly similar to a eulogy found online.”
