Wed 20 May 2009 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
The police team investigating allegations that an HIV positive gay Auckland man has been knowingly infecting his youthful sex partners has doubled in size with six officers now working on the case. Detective Sergeant Andy King of the Adult Sexual Assault Team says a considerable amount of information has been generated by enquiries and phone calls from the gay community since the case was drawn to public attention by GayNZ.com last Tuesday. "The more information we receive the more we have to look into and that can lead to even more work," he says. King will not be drawn as to how the investigation is progressing, whether medical records such as the alleged offender's HIV tests have been accessed or how long the investigation will take. GayNZ.com understands that the police have not yet spoken to the man, who is understood to have known his HIV status for more than a year but has allegedly continued having unprotected sex with young men in their late teens and early twenties. A currently-estimated seven youths attribute their HIV infection to the same man, although only one has so far laid a formal complaint with the police. The man, whose exact identity cannot yet be disclosed, is a personable and well-presented pakeha in his forties, although he looks considerably younger. He has a fair complexion and dark hair. He is an inner-city resident who shifted to Auckland from Wellington approximately two years ago and is alleged to have regularly sought unprotected sex with younger men in both cities. Any person who thinks they can assist the Police investigation should contact King on (09) 302 6611. Anyone considering being tested for HIV should contact one of the following: Body Positive: 0800 HIV LINE or (09) 309 3989; NZ AIDS Foundation's Auckland Burnett Centre: (09) 309 5560; NZ AIDS Foundation's Wellington Awhina Centre: (04) 381 6640; other NZAF support and testing centres or their GP or local Sexual Health Clinic.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 20th May 2009 - 8:57pm