Johnson Aziga, 54, was found guilty in April 2009 of two counts of first-degree murder, 10 counts of aggravated sexual assault and one count of attempted aggravated sexual assault for having unprotected sex with 11 women and not telling them he had the virus that causes AIDS.
An Ontario man believed to be the first person in Canada convicted of murder through HIV transmission was declared a dangerous offender in a Hamilton court Tuesday.
The designation means Johnson Aziga could be jailed indefinitely.
The 55-year-old Ugandan immigrant and father of three was convicted in 2009 of two counts of first-degree murder, 10 counts of aggravated sexual assault and one count of attempted aggravated sexual assault.
He will serve a life sentence without the possibility of parole for 25 years for the murder convictions.
But the dangerous offender designation means he will not be released on parole until the parole board deems him no longer a threat.
Aziga is appealing the murder convictions but even if he is successful he could still be jailed indefinitely because of the dangerous offender label applies to the assault charges.
During a weeks-long hearing where final arguments were heard in late June, the Crown said Aziga should be labelled a dangerous offender because his abnormally high libido could lead him to reoffend.
But Aziga's lawyer argued his client has learned a lot about HIV and AIDS since he was arrested in 2003, has changed his ways and is no longer a threat to the public.
His convictions are related to 11 women with whom he had unprotected sex without telling them he had HIV. Seven of the women became infected, with two dying of AIDS-related cancers.
Aziga, who has been in jail since his arrest, admitted he had unprotected sex with the women without disclosing his illness, but maintains he can't know for sure that he was the one who infected them.
After Justice Thomas Lofchik's decision was handed down Tuesday, Aziga gave a rambling statement to the court, saying he wanted to renounce his Canadian citizenship and serve his sentence in Uganda or Kenya.
Aziga said while he "betrayed the trust of many" he is not admitting any legal liability, adding that his "conscience is clear, unambiguous and unmistakable" on all charges.
Aziga also asked have "HIV positive" tattooed on the palms of his hands, but Lofchik refused to grant his request.
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Read it on Global News: Aziga declared dangerous offender by Hamilton judge
Ontario Doctors have to ask permission of patient to order HIV lab test. CPSO requires that the MD also explain to client pros and cons of the test.
ReplyDeleteSee Court case of CPSO Past President GP Sam BAIN who did not inform elderly male patient that he was infected by HIV from blood transfusion. Bain assumed no coital activity. Wife was infected, sued and won damages; then died.