PORT ELIZABETH - 5TH SUSPECT TO APPEAR IN COURT FOR MURDER OF SCHOOL TEACHER JAYDE PANAYIOTOU

Zolani Sibeko is expected to appear in the Port Elizabeth magistrate’s court on Friday in connection with the April 2015 murder of Eastern Cape school teacher Jayde Panayiotou.

It is more than a year since the school teacher’s murder and Sibeko is the fifth person arrested for the alleged crime.

Jayde’s husband, Christopher Panayiotou, is accused of masterminding her kidnapping and murder in April last year, allegedly for financial reasons.

The State alleges Panayiotou paid Luthando Siyoni, a bouncer at his Infinity nightclub, to hire hitman Sizwezakhe Vumazonke to kidnap and kill his wife, Jayde.

Siyoni has since become a section 204 witness, which means he is indemnified from prosecution if the court is satisfied at the end of the trial that he testified openly and honestly.

According to the State, Sinethemba Nenembe helped Vumazonke kidnap and kill Jayde at the behest of her husband.

Prosecutor Marius Stander indicated earlier this week that he would oppose bail as the crime Sibeko faces is very serious. It is a schedule six offence.

Stander said the State was still trying to establish if Sibeko was, in fact, 35 years old.

He said that Sibeko insisted that his surname was "Roxo" but the state was also still trying to verify this. Fingerprint testing would be done.

Stander added that the case against Sibeko would be transferred to the Port Elizabeth High Court, where he will be tried on October 10.

Police arrested Sibeko at his parent’s home in Greenbushes on Sunday.

Using cellphone plotting, police investigations placed Sibeko at the Stellen Glen complex with other suspects when the alleged kidnapping took place.

It emerged in court that Sibeko has previous convictions and a warrant for his arrest in another matter was outstanding.

Sibeko is facing charges of conspiracy to commit murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, kidnapping, murder and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.

VIA - enca.com