Prosecutors Say Canadian Man Didn't Warn Partners About HIV-Infection, Two Women Dead

A Canadian man is facing first-degree murder charges for allegedly knowing he was transmitting the HIV virus to his partners. Two have died.

Johnson Aziga, 52, learned he was HIV-positive in 1997 but allegedly continued to have unprotected sex with partners without informing them he had the disease. Prosecutor Tim Power said Aziga knowingly passed the disease to the partners without informing them about his condition. Aziga is also accused of having unprotected sex with at least 11 women. Two women are dead of what the prosecution says were HIV-related cancers. Aziga is currently in court in front of a three-woman, nine-man jury. Lawyers said this is the first-time a first-degree murder charge has been bought against an individual either in Canada or in the U.S. for allegedly passing on the HIV virus. Davies Bagambiire, Aziga’s lawyer, told AP:

"It's going to be a landmark case...This is the first time that a Canadian is prosecuted for alleged murder through the alleged dissemination or transmission of the HIV virus.

Power told the courts that Aziga, an immigrant from Uganda, was told several times by his health counselors not to have unprotected sex and to inform his partners about his condition. The Crown says he didn't do that. Prosecutors also say some of the women asked him whether he was HIV-positive, to which he replied no. The two women, who died of HIV-related cancers, videotaped a statement before their deaths. Their statements will be used as evidence against Aziga. Out of 11 partners, seven have tested positive for HIV including the two women who are now dead. Aziga formerly worked at Ontario's Ministry of the Attorney General.