A Montreal man who transmitted HIV to intimate partners without concern about the consequences for them was sentenced to seven years in prison, after which he would be expelled from the country.
• Also read: Guilty of transmitting HIV to his partners: He renounces his confession in order to remain in the country
“He voluntarily engaged in frequent sexual relationships while concealing from them the danger he posed,” judge Yves Paradis complained this Monday at the Montreal courthouse.
Alfredo José, 60, sat in the room and listened impassively as the judge condemned him for his criminal negligence, which greatly endangered the lives of two women he had seen in 2008 and 2015.
At the time, José hid the fact that he had HIV. When the first victim became infected with the virus, he acted as if nothing had happened. Then, seven years later, he found a new partner. But even though he knew he had already claimed a victim, he continued to ignore his condition without caring about the woman who was also affected.
“According to a probation officer, although it can be assumed that he had no intention of infecting the victims, he preferred to satisfy his sexual needs at the expense of the consequences […] on his partners,” the judge noted.
victims affected
Since then, victims say they have lived through hell.
“She felt betrayed by a person she trusted,” the judge said. She experiences feelings of helplessness, shame and loss of control. »
The second victim, in turn, stated bluntly that her “life has changed.” She fell into a “deep depression” and suffered enormously, both physically and mentally, from the obligation to take medication every day.
After his arrest in 2016, José was charged with aggravated sexual assault, but his lawyer at the time, Mr. Mike Jr. Boudreau, managed to have the charge dropped and replaced with criminal negligence causing bodily harm.
José then tried to withdraw his guilty plea, but to no avail, so much so that he asked the judge for leniency and suggested sentencing him to house arrest.
tears of joy
However, the judge ruled that his crimes were far too serious and, to the great relief of the two victims present in the courtroom, he sentenced José to seven years in prison.
“I have waited too long for this moment, I feel like justice has been served,” one of them said, crying with joy.
The second victim at his side did not hide his satisfaction, especially after eight years of delays caused by José.
But even if the criminal is now behind bars and later deported to his home country of the Dominican Republic, they know that this will not change their health.
“In my case, I don’t know if I can move forward,” one of them concluded.
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