Sexual predator or innocent victim? Those are just two of the labels an Australian jury will have to pin on 48-year old Michael John Neal: the man accused of intentionally infecting at least two sexual partners with HIV.

One of Neal's former lovers claims the idea that Neal went out of his way to spread the virus amounts to nothing but "malicious gossip". Another, however, insists Neal knew what he was doing. The witness, however, did nothing to stop it. Certainly a tough case. One thing's for sure - everyone involved needs to get their heads checked.

The defending witness - who cannot be identified] claims that Neal had never lied about his HIV status, nor would he put other people's lives in danger. When a lawyer suggested this witness may be a "bug chaser", the man vehemently denied such a charge, although he did admit he "fantasized" about being infected with the nasty retrovirus.

The other, more accusatory and just as anonymous witness, meanwhile admits that he did not use a condom upon first meeting Neal, but assumed him to be negative. Three months later, the man was diagnosed with HIV. Despite his suspicions that Neal had infected him, the daring duo continued to have unprotected sex.

Now, it seems to us that everyone's guilty here. Neal's guilty of being an irresponsible lover. This potential bug chaser's guilty of intentionally endangering his well-being. And the accuser's guilty of being just plain dumb: both for assuming Neal to be negative (always assume someone's positive) and then for going back to have more unprotected sex with the man he'd later testify against. Too bad there's no penal colony for sexual idiots.

HIV infection plan 'just malicious' gossip [The Australian]