![Nadja_benaissax390_0](https://www.advocate.com/media-library/nadja-benaissax390-0.jpg?id=32722240&width=1200&height=876)
CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
Nadja Benaissa, a German girl-band singer, was found guilty Thursday of causing bodily harm to her ex-boyfriend by having unprotected sex with him while knowing she was infected with HIV. She will not serve any jail time.
According to the Associated Press, Benaissa, a 28-year-old member of No Angels, received a two-year suspended prison sentence and 300 hours of community service after a court in Darmstadt convicted her. She could have received 10 years in prison.
"Benaissa helped her case during the trial, which began Aug. 16, by acknowledging she had unprotected sex despite knowing she was HIV-positive and saying it was a big mistake," reported the AP.
The former boyfriend, now 34, claimed that he was infected in 2004 and only got tested in 2007 after Benaissa's aunt told him the singer was HIV-positive. A scientist testified in court that Benaissa was the person who infected the man, based on the fact that both suffer from a very rare type of the virus.
Benaissa found out that she was HIV-positive at age 16 during her pregnancy. She told the court she hid her status from people because she was afraid of the potential reaction.
Some AIDS activists criticized the verdict for placing all the responsibility for prevention on the infected person.
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Meet all 37 of the queer women in this season's WNBA
April 17 2024 11:24 AM
Here are the 15 gayest travel destinations in the world: report
March 26 2024 9:23 AM
21+ steamy photos of Scotland’s finest gay men in Elska Glasgow
February 01 2024 10:07 PM
More Than 50 of Our Favorite LGBTQ+ Moms
May 12 2024 11:44 AM
Latest Stories
How the 2024 Paris Olympics could become a force to reverse climate change
July 25 2024 6:40 PM
Joe Biden and the lesson of never forgetting where you came from
July 25 2024 4:06 PM
Tom Daley goes down on all fours to test new Olympic beds
July 25 2024 2:58 PM
Kamala Harris make a cameo in RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 9 finale
July 25 2024 1:59 PM
Watch: Kamala Harris highlights her LGBTQ+ allyship in powerful first campaign ad
July 25 2024 12:31 PM