AgentM
10-20-2008, 09:03 PM
HAMILTON — The unprecedented murder trial of a man accused of having unprotected sex with numerous women despite knowing he carried the virus that can lead to AIDS began Monday with the prosecution saying he lied to his partners about his health status.
Johnson Aziga, 52, of Hamilton, faces two counts of first-degree murder because two of his girlfriends died of what the Crown says were HIV-related cancers, along with 11 counts of aggravated sexual assault.
“One may immediately think of a violent rape scenario,” prosecutor Tim Power told the three-woman, nine-man jury.
“That is not what this case is all about.”
Rather, Mr. Power said in his opening statement, Mr. Aziga put his partners at risk of serious bodily harm without their knowing, even having sex with one woman on the morning of his arrest in August 2003.
Seven of his 11 partners tested positive for HIV, including the two who died.
While there have been several criminal prosecutions in Canada and the U.S. related to the willful spread of HIV, this appears to be the first time someone has been charged with lethally infecting partners.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081020.whivtrial1020/BNStory/National/home
Johnson Aziga, 52, of Hamilton, faces two counts of first-degree murder because two of his girlfriends died of what the Crown says were HIV-related cancers, along with 11 counts of aggravated sexual assault.
“One may immediately think of a violent rape scenario,” prosecutor Tim Power told the three-woman, nine-man jury.
“That is not what this case is all about.”
Rather, Mr. Power said in his opening statement, Mr. Aziga put his partners at risk of serious bodily harm without their knowing, even having sex with one woman on the morning of his arrest in August 2003.
Seven of his 11 partners tested positive for HIV, including the two who died.
While there have been several criminal prosecutions in Canada and the U.S. related to the willful spread of HIV, this appears to be the first time someone has been charged with lethally infecting partners.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081020.whivtrial1020/BNStory/National/home