PORT ELIZABETH - ALLEGED HITMAN'S DEATH WON'T AFFECT PANAYIOTOU MURDER TRIAL

The ongoing Jayde Panayiotou murder case will not be affected by the death of one of the men implicated in her killing, according to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

Police on Wednesday confirmed that Sizwezakhe Vumazonke, who has been in a coma for a couple of days, died in hospital.

Vumazonke was standing trial for Jayde’s murder, alongside co-accused Sinethemba Nenembe and Zolani Sibeko, and her husband Christopher, who stands accused of orchestrating her kidnapping and murder.

But the NPA says the murder case will continue as normal, despite Vumazonke’s passing.

“Also we need to just clear it out that nothing will change. The trial will go ahead as planned and all that has been planned for the trial, nothing is going to change at all,” said the NPA’s Tsepho Ndwalaza, according to EyeWitness News.

Vumazonke was hospitalised in August, after his lawyers said that he was not fit to stand trial, as he was struggling to walk.

He fell ill at St Alban’s Prison, and his ill health last month resulted in two postponement of the pre-trial hearings at the Port Elizabeth High Court.

Also speaking to EWN, Vumazonke’s lawyer, Michelle Blignaut, said her client was going to plead not guilty to all the charges against him.

Authorities are reportedly waiting on the results of a toxicology report, this amidst rumours of concerns that someone might have poisoned Vumazonke.

A third accused, a bouncer named Luthando Siyoni, has turned state witness in this murder case. Christopher Panayiotou allegedly approached him in April last year, about hiring men to kill his wife.

The men face charges of abduction, murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

The trial is expected to start in October.

VIA - sabreakingnews.co.za