The Court of Appeals in Bulgaria's Black Sea capital Varna confirmed Monday the life sentence for the defendant Georgi Tsvetanov, convicted of murdering a 21-year-old female college student.

The magistrates did, however, reject the girl's parents' and the prosecution's appeal to change the sentence of the Varna District Court to life without parole.

In February 2010, the District Court acquitted the 22-year-old Tsvetanov on rape charges, but convicted him for “brutal murder” and, in addition to life behind bars, sentenced him to pay BGN 200 000 to the girl's parents.

The Court of Appeals ruled that the mistakes of the investigation, claimed by the defense council, do not automatically lead  to ignoring the evidence, which has not been manipulated, and establishes beyond doubts Tsvetanov perpetrated the crime and his actions were premeditated.

The appellate magistrates, however, note two extenuating circumstances – the clean criminal record of the defendant and his young age.

The rule can be appealed within 15 days before the Supreme Court of Cassations.

The mutilated body of the third-year student from Varna's Business University, Radostina Eftimova, was discovered by her sister on March 7, 2009, with over 50 knife wounds. The murder sent shock waves across the country and triggered mass student protests.

Despite mounting evidence, Georgi Tsvetanov, who faces life in prison, refuses to collaborate with the authorities, and continues to deny any involvement in the murder.

Georgi is the son of a prominent Varna politician, Tsanko Tsvetanov, Deputy Chair of the Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) and Chair of the UDF branch in the Bulgarian Black Sea capital Varna, who was forced to resign over the murder scandal.