On Tuesday 3 March, the Val-d’Oise Criminal Court found a 58-year-old man guilty of having unprotected sex with his partner without disclosing his HIV status. He was sentenced to four years’ suspended probation.
A conviction for ‘harmful substance’ and domestic violence
At the hearing, the accused, named Jocelyn, admitted to having tested positive for HIV in 1996, while explaining that he had not told his partner. The court found him guilty of administering a harmful substance resulting in permanent disability, as well as domestic violence, according to Le Parisien.
The sentence handed down is four years in prison with a two-year suspended sentence. During this period, he must comply with a restraining order prohibiting contact with his ex-wife and an obligation to seek treatment.
Prosecution and defence arguments
During the trial, the prosecutor requested a five-year prison sentence, including three years suspended, a sentence presented as adjustable. The defence, meanwhile, emphasised the age of the facts and the state of health of the accused.
A hearing marked by health problems and addiction
A prison sentence seemed unlikely given the medical situation described at the hearing. A previous hearing, held last year, had been adjourned after several epileptic seizures.
These seizures were presented as part of a history of drug addiction, with cocaine, heroin and crack use over several years. According to the evidence presented at the trial, the man had stopped most of these substances but remained heavily addicted to alcohol and cannabis, to the point that he left the courtroom shaking in the early afternoon on the first day of the hearing.
A discovery in 2014, followed by a complaint of domestic violence
The accused’s partner learned of his HIV status in 2014. The couple nevertheless married the following year, as the young woman believed that her situation would make her undesirable to other partners.
The complaint was filed later, in a context of domestic violence. Jocelyn, who had contested the facts during the investigation, finally acknowledged his long-standing HIV status at the hearing, expressed regret and apologised to his ex-wife.
58-year-old man on trial for transmitting HIV to his partner
A former drug addict, alcoholic and cannabis user, J, 58, allegedly had unprotected sex with his partner from 2009 onwards, even though he knew he had been infected since 1996. He never sought treatment.
J., 58, enters the courtroom of the Pontoise Judicial Court (Val-d’Oise) slowly on Monday morning. His trembling hand seeks support wherever it can. The presiding judge readily allows him to remain seated while answering questions. She mentions last year’s hearing, which had to be postponed for health reasons. ‘Last time, you had an epileptic seizure,’ she recalls. He had also vomited. This was the result of a lifetime of consuming all kinds of drugs and, above all, a persistent addiction to cannabis and alcohol.
It was for transmitting HIV to his partner that J. appeared before the Val-d’Oise Criminal Court until Tuesday. During the investigation, he denied that he was aware that he was HIV positive, but admitted it at the aborted hearing in 2025. “Yes, I admit it. I apologise to N.. I regret it,‘ he confessed. The investigation revealed that he had tested positive in 1996, but he does not appear to have received treatment. ’Maybe he gave me some, but I didn’t pay attention to that,” he said.
Un homme de 58 ans jugé pour avoir transmis le VIH à sa compagne
Ancien toxicomane, alcoolique et accro au cannabis, Jocelyn, 58 ans, aurait eu des rapports non protégés avec sa compagne à partir de 2009, alors qu’il savait être contaminé depuis 1996. Il ne s’est jamais soigné.
C’est d’un pas lent que Jocelyn, 58 ans, entre dans la salle d’audience du tribunal judiciaire de Pontoise (Val-d’Oise), ce lundi matin. Sa main tremblante vient chercher appui là où elle peut. La présidente lui accorde sans difficulté de pouvoir rester assis pour répondre aux questions. Elle évoque l’audience de l’année dernière qui avait dû être renvoyée pour raison de santé. « La dernière fois vous avez fait une crise d’épilepsie », rappelle-t-elle. Il avait aussi vomi. Le résultat d’une vie à consommer toutes sortes de drogues et surtout une addiction persistante au cannabis et à l’alcool.
C’est pour avoir transmis le virus du sida à sa compagne que Jocelyn comparait jusqu’à mardi devant la cour criminelle du Val-d’Oise. Pendant l’instruction, il a nié qu’il avait connaissance du fait qu’il était porteur du VIH mais l’a reconnu à l’audience avortée de 2025. « Oui, je le reconnais. Je m’en excuse auprès de Nathalie. Je regrette », confesse-t-il. L’enquête a révélé qu’il avait effectué un test positif en 1996, pour autant il ne semble pas avoir reçu de traitement « Peut-être qu’il m’en a donné un, mais j’ai pas fait attention à ça » esquisse-t-il.
