The murder trial of Christopher Panayiotou and his two co-accused continued in the Port Elizabeth High Court on Monday. Panayiotou is accused of being the mastermind behind the murder of his schoolteacher wife Jayde in April 2015.
State Prosecutor Marius Stander indicated on Friday that he will only call one more witness, investigating Officer Kanna Swanepoel, to the stand. On Monday morning, however, he called Warrant Officer Shane Bosch.
Bosch testified on how accused number four, Zolani Sibeko was eventually arrested 15-months after the murder. Bosch told the court how he was tasked with investigating a cell phone number.
He says he called the number and pretended to be from a cell phone company and told the person on the other end that his number was selected in a lucky draw to win a voucher of R500, all he had to do was answer an easy question, which he did.
Bosch then asked for all his details in order to deliver the prize. Sibeko gave police his full name and address in Zwide.
Bosch further told the court how they eventually ended up at a house in Greenbushes, which belonged to Sibeko's parents. The mother opened the door and informed police that her son was not there. They asked to search the premises and found Sibeko in an on suite bedroom where he was read his rights.
Bosch says there was a lady in the bedroom busy making the bed when they started searching for his handset. When they called the number the lady tried to leave the bedroom.
Bosch says he asked her where she was going when she opened her gown to show that she had nothing to hide. He testified that a cell phone was ringing on the inside of her pocket as they could see it's light. Bosch says it was the handset they were looking for.
Advocate Terry Price again accused the State of a trial by ambush since they called Bosch instead of Swanepoel as they indicated on Friday.
Peter Daubermann who represents Sibeko also objected and asked the court to adjourn to give him time to consult.
Judge Dyalin Chetty adjourned until Tuesday at 9.30
