Auckland man on charges over alleged HIV infection

Photo / File

An Auckland man has been charged after allegedly infecting another man with HIV.

The defendant, aged in his 40s, appeared in the Auckland District Court yesterday facing one count of causing grievous bodily harm with reckless disregard and one of committing a criminal nuisance by doing an unlawful act.

Court documents say between December and January he "failed to take reasonable precaution of a dangerous thing, namely HIV, knowing such an act would endanger the life of [the complainant]".

The man was not given name suppression but police said they would consider an injunction to stop any names being published.

Police believed naming him would draw attention to the victim.

The defendant is understood to be one of only a handful of people to be prosecuted over such offending.

In 2005 the first case of its type came before the court when Lower Hutt man Justin Dalley was charged with two counts of criminal nuisance.

But they were dismissed because he used a condom during intercourse.

In 2009, Glenn Richard Albert Mills was facing 28 charges against 14 complainants when he was found dead while on remand in custody.

About 100 people came forward for HIV testing after media coverage of Mills' case.

Police would not comment on whether they had similar concerns about the most recent case before the court.

The defendant's lawyer said he was reluctant to comment and the case would be back before the court today so both his client and the complainant could seek name suppression.

He faces a maximum of seven years in prison if found guilty.