HIV Brit found guilty of infecting girls
Published: 15th November 2007 12:38 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/9107/

A British citizen with HIV has been convicted of serious assault after
having had unprotected sex with 16 young girls, two of whom contracted the
virus.

Merrill Christer Aggett, 32, was found guilty by Solna District Court on
Thursday of two charges of serious assault, 13 charges of attempted
assault, six charges of sexual exploitation of a minor, one minor narcotics
offence and two charges of driving without a licence.

The trial is to be resumed next month after the court ruled that Aggett
should now undergo a psychiatric analysis, which is scheduled for
completion in mid-December.

If found to suffer from a psychiatric disorder, he will sentenced to secure
psychiatric care rather than prison.

Aggett is believed to have contacted 130 girls between 2002 and 2006 via
internet chat sites.

Two young girls were diagnosed as HIV positive after sleeping with Aggett.
Prosecutors successfully argued that he should be convicted of serious
assault for infecting the girls.

Aggett also faced charges of attempted assault for having unprotected sex
with other young girls, none of whom were infected. Many of them were under
15 when they slept with him.

The British citizen, who has lived in Sweden since he was a child, was
arrested in the early summer. Aggett himself was diagnosed as HIV positive
in 1992.

TT/The Local (news@thelocal.se/08 656 6518)