Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1999. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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United Press International - Wednesday, February 17, 1999
Prosecutors alleged that Dr. Richard Schmidt injected Janice Trahan Allen with the tainted blood because she broke up with him. Allen later tested HIV positive.
Schmidt, who was convicted of second-degree attempted murder, was sentenced today during a two-hour hearing.
The 48-year-old doctor had been free on bond and had continued a limited medical practice.
The Lafayette Parish district attorney's office says Schmidt's bail was revoked today and he was immediately taken into custody.
Schmidt's attorney says the sentencing was, "a formality," pending an appeal. Attorney Michael Fawer says he believes the conviction and sentence will be overturned.
Fawer maintains the prosecution, "never proved their case against Schmidt," and claims the jury found him guilty by a 10-2 verdict, "only on suspicion without any solid evidence."
At the October trial, Allen testified that Schmidt gave her an extremely painful injection that she said was supposed to be a vitamin shot.
The prosecution claimed the shot contained the virus that causes AIDS and said the tainted blood was drawn from a patient of Schmidt's who has AIDS.
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