'Rapist' HIV+ father charged with murder

An HIV positive man, who allegedly raped his minor step daughter, infecting her with the life-threatening disease, has been put on trial by a Delhi court on attempt to murder charges. He faces rape charges as well.

An HIV positive man, who allegedly raped his minor step daughter, infecting her with the life-threatening disease, has been put on trial by a Delhi court on attempt to murder charges. He faces rape charges as well.

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Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Kamini Lau framed charges of rape and attempt to murder against the accused, saying he had "intentionally" transmitted the deadly disease knowing fully well that it is likely to cause death of his 15-year-old daughter.

Lamenting the lack of a special legislation to deal with such situations, the court said such accused are liable to be prosecuted for the offence of attempt to murder and also charged him with causing miscarriage of his step daughter by giving her medicines.

"Unfortunately, there being no special legislation to deal with such situation of accused transmitting life threatening decease to another person intentionally with knowledge that the same is likely to cause death of that other person, this court is of the opinion that under the given circumstances, such person is also liable to be charged for the offence under section 307 (attempt to murder) of the IPC," it said.

While framing the charges, the court also referred to the medical report of the accused, which said he is a known HIV +ve case and at present his condition is satisfactory and stable.

Besides the step-father, the court also framed charges of rape against co-accused and the victim's boyfriend, saying he too raped the girl at her house in Shalimar Bagh village in the Capital between April 2011 and August 2011.