Former senior police officer Marius van der Westhuizen was on Thursday effectively jailed for 24 years for the murder of his three children three years ago.

Cape High Court Judge Willem Louw ruled the triple murders were not planned or premeditated. He said a sentence of 15 years on each count would have been imposed had the seriousness of the murders been the only factors to be taken into account. There were however substantial and compelling circumstances to justify a less severe sentence.

Defence attorney Milton de le Harpe is to launch an application for leave to appeal the sentence shortly on Thursday.