An HIV-positive man who insisted there was no clear evidence that the virus caused AIDS was sentenced Thursday to nine years in prison for having unprotected sex with three women.
A South Australia state Supreme Court jury convicted Andre Chad Parenzee, 36, in January on three counts of endangering life by having unprotected sex with the women, whose names have been suppressed by a court order.
But he appealed the conviction on the ground that there was no conclusive evidence linking the virus to AIDS.
Parenzee, who has been held in custody since his conviction, was sentenced Thursday after two courts rejected his appeal.
In his sentencing, Justice John Sulan said Parenzee had not fully come to terms with the fact that he had contracted HIV eight years ago, or the damage he caused.
One of his victims, a mother of two, later tested positive for HIV.
Parenzee will not be eligible for parole for five years.
