Well known Centurion attorney, Marius du Toit says Christopher Panayiotou drawing inferences between his and paralympian Oscar Pistorius' s matter is opportunistic.
The 28-year-old is accused of orchestrating the abduction and murder of his wife Jayde, whose body was found last month near Uitenhage.
She was shot three times.
Speaking to AlgoaFM News, du Toit said in Oscar's matter there was a legitimate argument that he thought he was shooting a burglar.
"It's opportunist because in Oscar's matter there was a legitimate argument that he thought he was shooting a burglar, so you can't equate the two into the same. If the reports are correct he was caught paying 'trap' money or money for the hit-man for having done his job, so there is definitely concrete evidence against him linking him to the murder,so for him to try and refute it it's going to be exceptionally difficult at the bail hearing and I'll be utterly surprised if he gets bail."
Meanwhile du Toit explains why it is extremely risky to apply for bail in pre-meditated murder, a schedule six offence.
"Our courts have often said, that one of the grounds for exceptional circumstances is the strength of the state's case. If I can show that the state's case against me is weak, then there is a very likelihood that I would get bail, if the state's case against me is very strong then it's very risky. But what do I do to tackle the strength of the state's case, I have to show my hand, I have to show what my version is, so by disclosing my version at this early stage I'm giving the state ammunition for the trial, because it's admissible at the trial at a later stage." said du Toit.
Panayiotou is expected back in court on Wednesday where his bail application is set to continue.
Meanwhile, in his bail application, brought before Magistrate Abigail Beaton on Thursday, Panayiotou complained about the conditions at St Albans prison, which he described in his affidavit as disgusting,despicable and a violation of his Constitutional rights.
He also denied being a flight risk and referred to the fact that paralympian Oscar Pistorius had been granted bail even though he too was charged with a serious offence.
Panayiotou's parents, Costa and Fanoula, were there with other family members to support him.
In their affidavits they described their only son as kind, gentle and soft-hearted.
They said their son was simply incapable of doing something like this.
Employees at his OK Foods Store described Christopher as honest and loyal, who was more of a friend than a boss.
Story:Raahil Sain
