The Federal Court has confirmed its ruling that transmitting the Aids virus may lead to prosecution for the offence of bodily harm. It rejected an appeal by canton Zurich, which argued that knowingly transmitting Aids merited a charge of attempted murder.

The Federal Court has confirmed its ruling that transmitting the Aids virus may lead to prosecution for the offence of bodily harm. It rejected an appeal by canton Zurich, which argued that knowingly transmitting Aids merited a charge of attempted murder.

However, the Lausanne-based tribunal left open the possibility of prosecution for attempted murder in rape cases or where it is suspected that there is a deliberate intention to pass on Aids.

The authorities in Zurich were appealing against a three-year sentence handed down to a 53-year-old man for infecting his partner. He lied to her about an Aids test she had asked him to take, telling her that the result was negative. The couple had a child before separating. The man, a drug addict, also had sexual relations with another woman but she was not infected.

The Federal Court overturned an appeal for increased compensation from the man's former partner and child, ruling that the SFr80,000 and SFr20,000 they were awarded was sufficient.

From staff and wire reports

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