Adam Hall, of Washington, denies inflicting GBH with intent on seven men and raping five men and is standing trial at Newcastle Crown Court
Newcastle Crown Court(Image: newcastle chronicle)
A man has gone on trial accused of deliberately infecting seven men with HIV. Adam Hall is charged with seven counts of inflicting GBH with intent in relation to transmitting the virus and he also stands accused of raping five men.
Kama Melly KC, prosecuting, told jurors at Newcastle Crown Court that there are eight complainants in the case. In relation to one complainant, he is accused of rape.
In relation to four complainants, he is accused of rape and GBH with intent. In relation to three complainants, he is accused of GBH with intent.
Miss Melly said: “It’s the prosecution case that the defendant, with the intention to do so, inflicted grievous bodily harm on all of the complainants save for (one of them). We say the manner in which he inflicted that grievous bodily harm was through the transmission of a virus normally referred to as HIV.
“We say Adam Hall was HIV positive, we say he had that at the relevant time, we say he had that at the time he had sex with each of the complainants for which that is relevant. We say he knew very well he was HIV positive and we say he intended through his actions to transmit that HIV to the complainants in this case.
“We say, in the case of each complainant where GBH is alleged, the defendant did, in fact, transmit that virus to them.”
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Miss Melly told jurors Hall, 43, of Donvale Road, Donwell, Washington, denies the offences. She added: “He will not, we anticipate, deny he had HIV at the relevant times.
“In many of the allegations, he will not dispute having anal intercourse with the complainants, nor will he dispute the fact they do now have HIV.
“However he will dispute the circumstances of sexual interaction. He will raise the issue of consent in respect of many of the sexual offences.”
Miss Melly added that while, it is alleged, Hall was well aware of his HIV status, he was not at all times taking the strict regime of treatment which would have meant the virus would have been at undetectable levels in his body. She added that while there have been advancements in the treatment of HIV, “it remains a serious and life-changing condition” and transmitting it amounts to really serious harm.
Miss Melly said: “The prosecution say none of the complainants were made aware the defendant had HIV.”
Hall denies six counts of rape in relation to five men, seven counts of GBH with intent in relation to seven men. He also denies other charges, including supplying the drug GHB and failing to comply with a requirement to disclose a password for his phone.
The trial continues.
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