AlgoaFM News
The trial of self-confessed middle-man Luthando Siyoni in the murder of Jayde Panayiotou is underway in the PE High Court.
41-year-old Luthando Siyoni is being charged with conspiracy to commit murder as well as murder.
State prosecutor Marius Stander called five witnesses on Friday, who all recalled the day of Jayde's abduction and how her body was found.
The first witness was Cherise Swanepoel, Jayde's best friend and fellow teacher at Riebeeck College.
The two women carpooled daily to Kariega and would talk about intimate matters during the 30-minute commute from Gqeberha.
It was Swanepoel who raised the alarm on the day of Jayde's disappearance in April 2015 when she arrived at her townhouse to pick her up.
By then, Jayde had already been abducted but was still alive.
Swanepoel testified how it was raining softly on that day and because she still needed to get petrol for her car, she asked Jayde to wait inside and not walk to the gate.
When she left the petrol station she told Jayde that she was on her way and the message was received.
However, when Swanepoel arrived at the Stellen Glen property, Jayde was nowhere to be seen.
She then messaged Jayde to tell her she was outside, but the message did not go through as by then the phone had been switched off.
Swanepoel then phoned the house phone and spoke to Jayde's husband Christopher, and together they started looking for her.
The State asked Swanepoel if she was aware of the fact that nine days before the abduction her house was also "scouted" by the alleged hitman and now deceased Sizwezhake Vumazonke, to which she replied she did not.
Another witness, Rachel Windvogel, who gave police a much-needed breakthrough in the search for Jayde, testified how she heard three gunshots and then reported it to the Kabega Park police station.
The then Warrant Officer (now Captain) Paul Franks from the K9 unit went to Windvogel's house and upon her recollection, a perimeter was set out to start a search for a body.
Makhu Mbini worked for Sovereign Foods as a security official and testified that he had heard that there had been a shooting at one of the company's farms and that police were looking for a body.
They eventually teamed up with the search party and it was Mbini who found Jayde's body.
He said by then, a police chopper was in the air and with hand signals they communicated that there was a body on the ground.
Captain Franks testified that Jayde's body was never moved and the scene was secured the moment forensics arrived on the scene.
In what can only be described as de-Ja Vu, Jayde Panayiotou's mother had to fight back the tears as she too had to relive the day when her eldest daughter was abducted and killed.
For the family, there will only be closure once Siyoni is convicted for his alleged role in the crime.
Advocate Stander is expected to call his next witness, Christopher Panayiotou to the stand on Monday.
The convicted mastermind behind the murder of Jayde is an essential witness for the State and his testimony is expected to be lengthy.
During Friday's proceedings, Luthando Siyoni pleaded not guilty to both charges against him - his counsel did not cross-examine any of Stander's witnesses.
