UK HIV trial involving Ghanaian halted
The trial of a 34-year old Ghanaian man accused of infecting two women with the HIV virus in the UK has been stopped.
This is because, Henry Assumang, who lives in Basingstoke of northeast Hampshire, in south central England, is ill and is unable to stand trial, UK officials said, reports the Daily Star August 2, 2013.
The application to halt the case was brought forward by the UK Crown Prosecution Service and was approved at the Winchester Crown Court.
Medical evidence showed Assumang was unable to enter a plea or stand trial, a CPS spokesman was reported to have said.
The Daily Star quoted the spokesman saying “Should Mr Assumang’s health improve sufficiently, we can apply to the court to resume this prosecution.”
Mr Assumang, 34 was charged with two counts of grievous bodily harm.
By Ekow Quandzie
A person who denies being HIV+ flies in the face of all respectable studies on HIV. The current process for testing is very reliable. In the past tests may have been less reliable. Also, treatment now is very effective and not toxic. The past toxicity has been recognised but current treatments are reliable. There are some who have side-effects but the drugs do preserve life.
If a man denies he is HIV positive and refuses to be treated he is very likely to die of an AIDS related illness.