Woman sentenced to seven years for infecting stepson with HIV
The chief magistrate court in Lira City has sentenced a 27-year old woman to seven years in prison on charges of injecting her step son with her HIV positive blood.
Court presided over by Samson Abiti Lumum heard that in late 2021, while at her home in Aber Kampala, Lira city west division, Colline Odyek intentionally injected her five year old stepson with her own blood.
The state prosecutor told court that the convict did this maliciously because the child’s father had annoyed her.
Court heard that the father of the child learned of the incident when the child narrated what had happened to him.
This prompted the father to involve the local authorities who referred the matter to police, court heard.
Police arrested Odyek and on January 17th, Odyek made first appearance before court and was charged with Intentional transmission of HIV/AIDS.
Appearing before the chief magistrate court in Lira City, Odyek pleaded guilty to the charge against her as read by the prosecution.
Odyek told court that she injected the minor to revenge on his father Aaron Bua who was constantly mistreating her.
Following her own plea of guilt, the convict was charged with intentional transmission of HIV which contravenes section 43(1) of the HIV and AIDS Prevention and Control Act.
Abiti argued that although Odyek is a first time offender and she was very remorseful, she committed an inhumane act that deserves a deterrent sentence.
“You admitted all the ingredients of this offence. This offence carries a punishment of ten years Imprisonment. You have been very remorseful, pleaded guilty. I find that this deserves a deterrent sentence, and so in the consequence I am sentencing the convict to serve 7 years Imprisonment,” ruled the chief magistrate.
