Man Accused of Spreading HIV Wins Re-Trial

An appeal court judge ordered the re-trial of a man convicted of inflicting “biological” grievous bodily harm by infecting two former lovers with the HIV virus which causes AIDS.

An appeal court judge ordered the re-trial of a man convicted of inflicting “biological” grievous bodily harm by infecting two former lovers with the HIV virus which causes AIDS. Mohammed Dica, 38, last year became the first person in 137 years to be convicted in England and Wales for sexually transmitting a disease. But London’s Court of Appeal Wednesday quashed his conviction and said he should be retried. Giving reasons for his decision, the appeal court’s Lord Justice Igor Judge said the judge at Dica’s original trial should not have withdrawn from the jury the issue of whether the women consented to intercourse. He said that on this basis the appeal should be allowed and the court “unhesitatingly” ordered a retrial which should take place as soon as possible. Dica, from Mitcham, south London, will remain in custody until the new trial. (Source: Reuters Health News, May 2004)