HIV infection case: Accused pleads not guilty
A 35-year-old Auckland man has pleaded not guilty to charges related to infecting a man with HIV. The man was granted name suppression by Community Magistrate Dianne Hale today in the Auckland District Court.
He was charged with one count of causing grievous bodily harm with reckless disregard and one of committing a criminal nuisance by doing an unlawful act.
It is alleged that between February 2014 and October 2014 he “failed to take reasonable precaution of a dangerous thing, namely HIV, knowing such an act would endanger the life of [the complainant]” and “with reckless disregard for the safety of [the complainant] caused grievous bodily harm to [the complainant].
John Munro, defence lawyer for the accused, said today that interim name suppression would be discussed at the next court appearance. The man was remanded on bail to an Auckland address, and was told not to contact the complainant.
He faces a maximum of seven years in prison if found guilty.
The man’s appearance in court comes two weeks after a different man appeared on the same charges. He was also granted name suppression.
