Monday, August 16, 2010

A half Moroccan popstar has admitted having sexual intercourse with three men without telling them she had HIV

Nadja Benaissa, who was a member of the popular German girl band No Angels, told a court she was sorry for not disclosing her condition. The 28-year-old is facing five charges of attempted grievous bodily harm for sleeping with the men without protection. She is also accused of one count of grievous bodily harm after one of the men became infected with HIV, which she denies. She appeared in court in Darmstadt, western Germany, to give evidence. The court heard how the singer had known she was HIV positive since 1999. Benaissa, who is half German and half Moroccan, became part of No Angels in 2000 which went on to become one of Germany's most popular bands, selling more than five million records before breaking up in 2003. She said her HIV status was discovered when she went to hospital, aged 16, for routine tests during pregnancy. It was alleged that the singer went on to have sex with three men a maximum of five times between 2000 and 2004. Benaissa admitted she did not tell her sex partners about her condition. The man who claims the pop star infected him said they had a three-month relationship at the beginning of 2004. He said he got tested after Benaissa's aunt asked him in 2007 whether he was aware that the singer was HIV positive. Benaissa was arrested in April 2009, before a concert in Frankfurt and held in custody for 10 days. It is alleged another former partner made a complaint to police in 2008. The trial is expected to last five days and if found guilty, Benaissa could be jailed for a maximum of 10 years.

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