UK: First intentional HIV transmission case in UK?

Stories from Manchester Evening News
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1018323_man_on_hiv_assault_charge

BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/england/manchester/7025404.stm

Note: Section 18 is grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent; whereas Section 20 is reckless GBH. Dica (the first English case) was originally charged with Section 18 but due to the difficulty of proving sexual HIV transmission with intent the charge was later reduced to Section 20. All subsequent cases in England & Wales have been for Section 20 - 'reckless' HIV transmission.

Man on HIV assault charge

3/10/2007

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.

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Published: 2007/10/03 09:32:29 GMT

Man is charged over HIV 'assault'

A 39-year-old man has been charged with assault after a woman became infected with the HIV virus.

[Name of man] of [name of street] in [area of Manchester], has been charged with section 18 assault by Greater Manchester Police.

He is due to appear at Manchester City Magistrates' Court later.

The victim, who has not been named, is aged in her 30s. Police have not released any further information about the incident.

© BBC MMVII