Illness Stops HIV Infection Case

The case against a Hampshire man accused of infecting two women with the HIV virus has been stopped by the Crown Prosecution Service because of his ill-health.

Henry Assumang, of Coppice Pale, Chineham, Basingstoke was charged with two counts of inflicting grievous bodily harm on the pair, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

But after several hearings at Winchester Crown Court during the past 20 months, the prosecution stayed proceedings against the 34-year-old after "receiving new medical evidence concerning his health''.

The accusations against Assumang, who is HIV positive and originally from Ghana, were that he had sexual relationships with the women between 2007 and 2010 after he met them in Basingstoke.

Assumang pleaded not guilty to the two charges in January last year and the case was originally listed for trial that June until concerns about his health were raised before the court, delaying and eventually stopping proceedings.

The CPS application to halt the case was approved in court today by Judge Jane Miller QC.

A CPS spokesman said: "We have suspended the prosecution of Henry Assumang after receiving new medical evidence concerning his health, which clearly shows that Mr Assumang is unable to enter a plea or stand trial at this time. The court has approved this decision.

"Should Mr Assumang's health improve sufficiently, we can apply to the court to resume this prosecution.''