II. SUBJECT OF THE APPLICATION A. Facts of the matter 3. It emerges from the record that on 16 April 2013, the Applicant lured an eight (8) year old girl to his house with the promise of giving her a bar of soap for her ailing grandmother and subsequently raped her. The Applicant was arrested on 17 April 2013 and charged with rape before the District Court of Chato on 18 April 2013. On 3 February 2014, he was convicted of the offence and sentenced to life imprisonment. 4. On 12 February 2014, the Applicant appealed against his conviction and sentence at the High Court of Tanzania sitting at Bukoba, which dismissed the appeal on 30 October 2014. On 11 November 2014, he filed an appeal to the Court of Appeal which was dismissed for lack of merit on 21 February 2016. B. Alleged violations 5. III. The Applicant alleges the violation of his right to a fair trial insofar as: i. He was denied the right to be heard; and ii. He was not provided with free legal assistance. SUMMARY OF THE PROCEDURE BEFORE THE COURT 6. The Application was filed on 2 March 2017 but was not served on the Respondent State because it was incomprehensible. 7. On 24 March 2017, the Court granted the Applicant legal aid under its Pro Bono Legal Aid Scheme and appointed Counsel Daudi Lairumbe to represent the Applicant. 3