Guilty verdict: Neal

Guilty verdict: Neal

ANDIE NOONAN
www.bnews.net.au

Melbourne man Michael Neal has been found guilty of 15 charges, including attempting to infect another person with HIV, rape, reckless conduct endangering a person and sexual penetration by fraud.

The jury took four days to find Neal guilty following the six-week trial, with a number of witnesses telling the court they had unprotected sex with Neal who had failed to disclose his HIV status.

He was cleared on 11 counts, including two of causing people to be infected.

The defence argued Neal did not believe he was infectious because his “viral loads” were low and was careful not to endanger others.

The prosecution told the court that Neal had deliberately endangered others for his own gratification and ignored warnings by health authorities to practice safe sex and tell partners of his HIV status.

The court also heard Neal bragged about infecting 75 people, telling one person he “gets off” on it.

The high profile case has caused wide controversy. Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Dr Robert Hall was stood down last year, with Health Minister Bronwyn Pike citing the Neal case as a factor in the dismissal, saying Hall should have notified her office sooner.

A pre-sentence hearing will be held in October.

You May Also Like

2 responses to “Guilty verdict: Neal”

  1. It was a great sigh of relief to hear that this “Monster” will be put away for so long after the horrendous acts he commited on so many gullible niave gay men.
    But I suppose Neal is only the tip of the “Ice-Berg” as there are many HIV+ Positive men who frequent the “On sex premises” who do not and will not discuss with their potential prey that they are positive,not to give the other party a choice as this would endanger the carriers possibilitys chances of getting laid.
    I heard many years ago that “Infected previous patrons” enter to tamper with the in-house sealed condoms with a Needle.
    Be cautious you only have one life,handle your own protection and beware of men who sleep around constantly as they are the first casualties of sexual transmitted deseases and super-strains.
    Oh Im no angry bitch,ive just noted that most of my friends who were most sexually promiscuous are all becoming infected around 30 and are now paying the price.Its all equations.

  2. He should be treated the same as all of the other registered sex offenders/peadophiles… lock him away for good.