Woman 'did not condemn' HIV man

The woman at the centre of a court case over her contraction of the HIV virus did not condemn her boyfriend when she discovered she was infected.

The High Court in Glasgow heard that Anne Craig, 34, was with her partner, Stephen Kelly, 33, when a counsellor told her she was HIV positive.

But retired counsellor James Black told Donald QC, defending, Miss Craig seemed resigned to her status and that she was more concerned for one of her daughters who was in care.

Mr Kelly, of Glasgow's Provanmill area, denies that knowing or believing he was infected, he had unprotected sexual intercourse with Miss Craig.

'No condemnation'

The offence is alleged to have happened at various addresses between December 1993 and March 1994.

On Tuesday the court heard Mr Black, who was the head of the HIV testing and counselling centre at Glasgows Ruchill Hospital, tell Mr Findlay Miss Craig had several consultations with him with in Mr Kelly's presence.

He said: "To be fair to Mr Kelly at no stage did she utter any condemnation of him."

The jury also heard details of a 45 minute taped interview Mr Kelly had with police in May 1999.

During the interview the accused told Detective Inspector Cameron Cavin he had sex with Miss Craig during their second meeting.

'Moved in together'

It happened after he took her back to his homeless person's flat, but he denied that he had discussed any health issues with her beforehand, or had used any form of protection.

"Was it something you considered?," asked the detective.

"No," he replied.

Mr Kelly told the police that in their continuing relationship they moved in together with his two children and her children, and continued to have sex nightly.

Mr Kelly told the detective that his partner, Elizabeth, had died just before he got out of prison and that he was "on the re-bound".

Repeated allegations

He told the officer: "She had the same kind of nature as Elizabeth."

When asked again if pregnancy or any health risks were discussed, Mr Kelly claimed Miss Craig wanted to get pregnant.

He also alleged that he had heard stories she had been a prostitute in Manchester, had sold drugs and had Aids, but he had shrugged them off.

Mr Kelly also admitted that he was suffering from HIV himself.

The case before Lord Mackay of Drumadoon continues.