A Christchurch woman who says she suffered nervous shock after learning her partner was HIV-positive is fighting an ACC ruling refusing her compensation.
The 34-year-old's former partner hid his HIV status and they had unprotected sex throughout their four-month relationship, which ended in April 1996 when she discovered his condition.
The woman, who is not HIV-positive, complained to police in 1999 and her former partner was convicted of criminal nuisance and jailed. She then applied for compensation from ACC, which turned her down twice.
She took her case to the Christchurch District Court in January 2004, saying she had become withdrawn and depressed and needed professional help. Her appeal was dismissed.
The woman's lawyer, John Miller, said yesterday that there was no doubt she was a victim of crime.
He told the High Court at Wellington that she was appealing against the District Court decision because new laws had increased the number of sexual crimes covered by the ACC schedule.
Justice Tony Randerson reserved his decision.
- NZPA
Woman with HIV trauma fights ACC
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