A Victorian man has been found guilty of deliberately attempting to infect other men with HIV, and given a sentence of 18 years and nine months.
In the first case of its kind in the state, Michael John Neal, 49, was found guilty of 15 charges relating to 11 victims, including attempting to infect people with HIV, rape, and administering a drug for sexual penetration last year.
In handing down Neal’s sentence in January, Victorian County Court Judge David Parsons dubbed Neal as a ‘grim reaper’ after Neal deliberately pursued his ‘deviant sexual practices’ despite a series of warnings from Victoria’s Health Department over five years regarding his failure to practice safe sex.
The court was told Neal, diagnosed with HIV in 2000, arranged so-called ‘conversion parties’, where he engaged in reckless behaviour including unprotected sex and non-disclosure of his positive status.
Neal had shown no remorse, Judge Parsons said, and had not apologised to his victims.
‘You sought to become your own version of the grim reaper,’ he said.
Judge Parsons said Neal had continued to offend until his arrest in 2006 and had not made any effort to alter his ‘aberrant sexual proclivities’, particularly with relation to child pornography. Neal pleaded guilty to producing and possessing child pornography and possessing a drug of dependence.
But he had pleaded not guilty to infecting others with HIV, claiming he had a low viral load that meant he could not pass on the virus.
Former chief health officer, Robert Hall was a casualty of the controversial case, stood down by Health Minister, Bronwyn Pike, for failing to act to stop Neal’s behaviour.
Victorian AIDS Council acting CEO, Colin Batrouney, told Southern Star the sentence reflected the serious nature of the crime.
‘There are rogues in all communities and the gay community isn’t any different in this regard … this case demonstrates current legislative frameworks are in place to deal with these types of rare situations and are working properly.’
