A rape case is set to face further scrutiny as defence attorney Wendel Alexander announces plans to appeal both the conviction and sentence of his client.

The 36-year-old defendant, recently sentenced to 17 years in prison for raping his former girlfriend, was found guilty on one of two rape charges in April.

The case stems from a July 22, 2019 incident, occurring approximately one month after the end of the couple’s six-month relationship.

Court testimony revealed a sequence of events: The perpetrator contacted the victim from an unknown number, luring her with the promise of repaying a $30,000 loan.

Upon meeting, he forced her into a rented car with tinted windows and confiscated her phone.

The assailant then drove to an isolated area in Bendals, where he physically assaulted the victim, accusing her of infidelity.

Despite her denials, he proceeded to punch and choke her before sexually assaulting her against her will.

While the victim alleged a second rape occurred at a house immediately after, the jury did not find sufficient evidence to convict on this charge.

This discrepancy forms the basis of Alexander’s planned appeal, as he questions the logic of convicting his client on one charge but not the other, given their close temporal proximity.