THOHOYANDOU – The Thohoyandou High Court has turned down the application for leave to appeal by the former police officer Tendamudzimu Isaac Tshipandu (41) who is serving a life term for raping a 16 year-old girl.

Tshipandu, a law graduate who was attached to the area office in Sibasa, was sentenced to a life term imprisonment by the same court late last year, after he was found guilty of raping a minor, who was also a virgin.

Although many welcomed the sentence by Judge Ephraim Makgoba as a deserving one, Tshipandu’s legal representative Adv Khami Makhafula, who accused the media of influencing the decision by “sensationalizing the story,” vowed that he would appeal against the sentence, which he said it was too harsh.

The application for leave to appeal was heard on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. It would be a waste of taxpayers money since they believe that there won’t be a different sentence if the case can be heard again.

This decision now leaves Makhafula with no option, but to approach the Supreme Court.