The father of convicted wife murderer Christopher Panayiotou was found shot dead just before 2am on Monday morning. Costa Panayiotou, who died at 67-years-old, was reportedly gunned down outside of the Bambi Snack Bar in Market Street, Uitenhage.
Speaking to News24, police spokesperson Majola Nkholi confirmed Panayiotou’s VW Polo was stolen and later recovered in Motherwell.
The motive of the shooting is still unknown, but police have stated they will release a statement later today. Panayiotou was shot twice.
Christoper Panayiotou was sentenced to life in prison after he was found guilty for the murder of his wife, Jayde.
Initially, Jayde was reported missing. It was alleged she had disappeared just outside of the couple’s apartment complex along Deacon Road. A reward of R150 000 was put up to ensure her safe return, but Jayde’s body was found in a field in Kwanobulhe on April 22, 2015.
She died as a result of bullet wounds to her skull and chest.
Jayde was a teacher at Riebeek College Girls’ High School in Uitenhage near Port Elizabeth. Her husband, on the other hand, was a businessman in Port Elizabeth, owning the OK Grocer in Algoa Park. Christopher met Jayde in 2004 through friends, and they got married in June 2013.
An investigation concluded that Christopher had Jayde killed as he was having an affair, and could not keep up with the costs of having both a wife and a mistress. Lieutenant Rhynhardt Swanepoel, who was the case’s investigating officer, told the court that Christopher Panayiotou was in the process of obtaining a R2.2-million loan.
