There was a major development in the Christopher Panayiotou murder trial on Monday morning when the matter resumed in the Port Elizabeth High Court.
Judge Dyalan Chetty ruled that secret police recordings of Panayiotou in conversation with alleged middleman Luthando Siyoni, would be admissible in court.
In the recording, Panayiotou can be heard talking to Siyoni about the morning his wife disappeared.
Jayde's family was in tears and elated at the ruling - with the admissibility of the recordings made during a police sting operation being the subject of a trial within a trial in the case.
Christopher Panayiotou is charged with orchestrating the abduction and murder of his schoolteacher wife Jayde and is on trial with his two co-accused Sinethemba Nemembe and Zolani Sibeko.
Proceedings last year had its fair share of drama, first with the mystery death in hospital of alleged hitman, Sizwhezakhe Vumazonke, followed by two State witnesses including the alleged middleman being declared hostile witnesses.
The State is still some way from closing its case, with about 15 more witnesses expected to be called to the witness stand.
Jayde Panayioutou was abducted from outside her Kabega Park home on 22 April 2015. She was then driven to the outskirts of Kwanobuhle where she was shot three times.
Her husband was arrested soon after the funeral.
