SYDNEY, Jan 16, 2009 (AFP) - An HIV-positive Australian man who deliberately tried to infect unsuspecting gay partners with the virus was jailed for more than 18 years Friday.
Michael Neal, 50, was found guilty by a county court jury in Melbourne on 15 counts, including two of rape and eight of trying to infect another person with HIV, the national AAP news agency reported.
The court heard that Neal arranged "conversion parties" where he had unprotected sex and had bragged about infecting 75 people, telling one of his partners he "gets off" on infecting people.
"You sought to be your own version of the grim reaper," Judge David Parsons told Neal before jailing him for 18 years and nine months.
Neal's offending behaviour continued up until his arrest despite repeated warnings from health authorities and he had shown no remorse for his terrible crime, the judge said.
Defence lawyer George Georgiou said Neal, a father of three and grandfather of four, had suffered a nervous breakdown after his marriage failed and began a "homosexual lifestyle" in about 1992 or 1993. He contracted HIV in 2000.
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