Neal gets 18 years jail
A man found guilty of infecting people with HIV has been sentenced to 18 years and nine months jail.
Michael John Neal, 49, from the Victorian suburb of Coburg, was sentenced in the Victorian County Court last week, with Judge David Parsons stating Neal sought to become his own version of the grim reaper.
Neal, who has already served more than two years behind bars, was given a 13 year and nine month minimum sentence. He was found guilty of 15 charges, including attempting to infect eight people with HIV, rape, and administering a drug for sexual penetration.
As well, Neal pleaded guilty to producing and possessing child pornography and possessing a drug of dependence.
The court heard Neal, who was diagnosed with HIV in 2000, engaged in reckless behaviour including arranging conversion parties to have unprotected sex without revealing his HIV status.
Neal pleaded not guilty to infecting others with HIV at trial, claiming he believed his viral load level was so low he could not pass the virus on.
Defence lawyer George Georgiou had previously asked the judge to view the fact Neal was part of a subculture where risky sexual behavior is a prominent feature.
The case is the first prosecution of its kind in Victoria.
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Whatever other behaviours, this was essentially a political trial because Neal stupidly defied the Victorian Health Department. You are all overlooking that the many thousands of hiv diagnosed men in Australia contracted from other men, most of whom may well have been aware of their diagnosis but chose not to reveal or lied. Unquestionably, even today, negative men are barebacking willingly with strangers who don’t declare or lie about their status. In reality, resposibilty is one’s own. Will the trendy newly formed zealous sexual police be pursuing them all?
Shane I respect babies that are born with Aids and people that were given it accidentally through a medical procedure in Hospital.
But to the ones who scour the Internet gay chat sites i.e Gaydar/gay.com/dudesnude etc or gay sex on premises i.e Bodyline and other sex venues you have taken your own responsibility of doing this and the more you have “Brief” encounters the higher risk you will become infected.
Mardi-Gras attracts thousands of tourists each year and the saunas are packed with new faces in those short weeks ,and alot of them carry new super-strains from San Fransisco and West Hollywood.So avoid those places full stop,get a mate and settle down and be loyal to each other control the risk.
Aids only affects sexually promiscious men,its just a matter of maths equations to they become infected,or like like playing the pokies,the more you push the buttons (Brief encounters) the more likely your going to hit the jackpot(Aids).
OLiver he probably will spend the rest of his life there.
It is highly likely this human garbage of a man will die in Gaol and rightly so .
Gwen you may wish to be a little more respectful in your description of HIV & AIDS.
Some may not consider your comments to be also judgemental about those who carry what you call a “hideous” disease….
I agree with Oliver.
This is a terrific sentence. Let this be a warning to anyone who knowingly attempts to spread their hideous disease.
18 years is too short. He should spend his whole life behind bars. The justice system is a joke!!!