UK: First intentional HIV transmission case in UK?

Charged

Man on HIV assault charge

October 3, 2007
Source: Manchester Evening News

A MAN has appeared in court charged with assault after a woman became infected with the HIV virus.

[Name of man], aged 39, of [name of street] in [area] in Manchester, is charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent to a 37-year-old woman.

He appeared at Manchester City Magistrates to face the Section 18 charge.

The court was told the alleged offence happened between February 1st and September 19th this year.

Defending, Miss Ruth Gill, made an application for bail but it was refused by District Judge Alan Berg on the grounds that there was a risk other offences could be committed.

[The man] was remanded in custody and committed to Crown Court where he will appear on October 10th.

HIV – the initials stand for human immunodeficiency virus – can lead to full-blown Aids, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Aids caused the immune system to fail and in 2005 it claimed an estimated 2.4 to 3.3m lives.

It is estimated that about 0.6 per cent of the world’s population is infected with HIV.

The majority of HIV infections are acquired through unprotected sex.