No jail for Germany HIV popstar

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An HIV-positive German popstar accused of infecting a former partner with the virus has been given a two-year suspended sentence.

Nadja Benaissa, 28, admitted having unprotected sex and keeping her HIV status secret, but denied deliberately infecting anyone.

The No Angels singer was found guilty of causing bodily harm to one man, and of two cases of attempted bodily harm.

At the trial she said she was “sorry from the bottom of my heart”.

Ms Benaissa had sex with three people without telling them she was infected. One of them was confirmed as having contracted the virus.

Ms Benaissa told the court Darmstadt that she had not told anybody about her disease because she was afraid of the consequences for her career, which she conceded was a “cowardly act”.

She claimed she had been told by doctors that the risk of passing on the virus had been “practically zero”.

Ms Benaissa was arrested in Frankfurt last year, shortly before she was due to perform a solo concert, and spent 10 days in custody.

No Angels were formed in 2000 on the international TV show Popstars, before recording a series of hits and emerging as Germany’s most successful girl band.

They re-formed in 2007 and competed in the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest, finishing 23rd.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

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