Undertrial HIV victim dies in hospital

Panaji : An HIV-positive undertrial, booked for deliberately infecting a minor boy with HIV virus by sodomizing him in 2008, died at a state-run hospital late on Saturday night.

John D?Souza died after he failed to respond to medical treatment at Goa Medical College and Hospital.

The accused was lodged in Vasco sub-jail since his arrest in Nov 2008.

The prisoner?s death is not found suspicious. But the Sub-Divisional Magistrate will investigate and confirm the circumstances.

John was arrested after a complaint by a 14-year-old?s father that the accused sexually abused his child between May 2008 and August 2008 in a car.

The women and child protection unit where the complaint was registered swung into action and arrested the man.

Goa?s Children?s Court however released him on bail within few days of his arrest. The state then filed an appeal in the Bombay High Court at Goa that quashed Children?s Court order and asked the man to surrender before the investigating team.

John was once again behind bars after he surrendered on Nove 25 and was in prison since then.

During the investigation, the investigating team attached blue film CDs, DVD player, two vehicles (Omni and Zen) and cloth pieces from the car that was probably used by the accused to wipe himself after having sex.

Police were also investigating whether the accused had sexually abused other boys as well.

The man was chargesheeted in the juvenile?s Court of sexually assaulting the minor boy and infecting him with HIV virus.

Around 10 witnesses were examined who confirmed that the man of committing the offense. The trial is underway in the Court.