Post by Taxigirl on Oct 14, 2003 18:05:36 GMT
A man diagnosed with HIV has been found guilty of "callously" infecting two women with the virus in a landmark legal case.
The jury at Inner London Crown Court found 37-year-old Mohammed Dica guilty of two counts of "biological" grievous bodily harm on Tuesday.
Father-of-three Dica, from Mitcham, south-west London, had told police both women knew of his condition before they had sex.
But the court heard he told his first victim he had undergone a vasectomy and pursued the second victim, a mother of two, repeatedly telling her he loved her and wanted her to have his children.
The jury of six men and six women were told that both women could be dead in 10 years.
The case is believed to be the first successful prosecution in England and Wales for sexually transmitting HIV.
Prosecutor Mark Gadsden told the jury that grievous bodily harm usually described a physical attack but could include psychological harm from being stalked or getting nuisance calls.
Judge Nicholas Philpot rejected an application for bail and a request for a psychiatric report - but said he would adjourn sentencing if further concerns were raised.
He added: "If I had to sentence him today there is no doubt he would be going to prison, and for a long time."
Dica, who may only have a few years to live, is planning an appeal against the verdict.
His second victim, known only as Deborah, sobbed as the jury returned its verdict.
Mohammed Dica is the first person to be successfully prosecuted in England and Wales for passing on the Aids virus, HIV, through sex
Conviction is a landmark legal ruling
She said: "He played with my life and he's destroyed it. This has been a tragic part of my life.
"Not only did I find out that I had contracted HIV but also discovered that the person who gave it to me, whom I trusted and loved, had been infected for five years and devastated my life and the life of another woman with intent.
"Sadly this is not over for me.
"My sentence has begun but I can now move on knowing that justice has been done."
Others infected
Speaking after the verdict, Metropolitan Police Detective Sergeant Jo Goodall suggested Dica may have infected others.
"This is a landmark case, being the first successful prosecution in England and Wales, for inflicting grievous bodily harm by infecting, in this case two victims, with a serious sexually transmittable disease, namely HIV, in over a century.
"I admire the courage of the two females in coming forward with this allegation.
People with HIV should feel able to disclose their HIV status without fear of rejection or discrimination
Derek Bodell, National Aids Trust chief executive
"I hope that the outcome of this case will encourage other victims to come forward, especially since it may well be that there are other victims of this man."
Derek Bodell, National Aids Trust chief executive, said: "Today's case is a tragedy for all parties.
"Treating cases like this as a criminal offence will not prevent such incidents in the future, and on the contrary may be counterproductive.
"People with HIV should feel able to disclose their HIV status without fear of rejection or discrimination."