The lengthy trial-within-a-trial in the Panayiotou murder hearing has come to an end in the Port Elizabeth High Court.
The trial-within-a-trial revolved around a secret video recording made by the police where accused number one, Christopher Panayiotou, allegedly implicates himself.
The family and friends of Jayde Panayiotou, who was abducted and murdered in April 2015, were disappointed that the Judge did not have an opportunity to rule on the matter on Friday.
Judge Dayalin Chetty indicated earlier in the week that he wanted the trial-within-a-trial to come to an end before proceedings wrapped up for the second leg of the trial. If Judge Chetty allowed the video into evidence, it was expected to benefit the State’s case.
Advocate Terry Price, for the defence, asked the Judge for more time to prepare his heads of argument. He told the court that this was a critical trial-within-a-trial, and could not be taken lightly. He indicated that he planned on going through the court transcripts of over 2 500 pages.
Judge Chetty postponed the matter until the 12th of June.
He did, however, ask both the State and Defence to have their heads of argument done and on his desk by the end of the month.
Christopher Panayiotou is accused of being the mastermind behind the abduction and murder of his schoolteacher wife Jayde in April 2015. He was arrested shortly after her death and remains in custody.
