Hamilton man guilty of murder in 2 HIV deaths
April 5, 2009
THE CANADIAN PRESS
HAMILTON – A man accused of causing the deaths of two women by spreading HIV has been found guilty of first-degree murder in an unprecedented Canadian case.
Johnson Aziga, of Hamilton, was also found guilty of 10 counts of aggravated sexual assault. On an 11th count, he was found guilty of attempted aggravated sexual assault.
Aziga, 52, was accused of transmitting HIV by having unprotected sex with co-workers and women he met in bars and nightclubs.
Seven women became infected, and two died of AIDS-related illnesses. Four were exposed to HIV but tested negative.
The Crown said two women, whom Aziga met while working for the Ontario government, died after he failed to warn them he was HIV-positive.
The defence argued Aziga suffered from an organic brain disorder and a range of personal problems and did not have the state of mind to deliberately endanger the lives of his sexual partners.
Aziga is to be sentenced on May 7.
Assistant Crown attorney Karen Shea told the judge she expects to have victim impact statements from many of the surviving complainants and their families.
Toronto Star
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