VIC: HIV positive doctor jailed for endangering wife

AAP General News (Australia)
08-13-1999
VIC: HIV positive doctor jailed for endangering wife

MELBOURNE, Aug 13 AAP - A former Melbourne doctor who is HIV positive was jailed for a
minimum of three years today for endangering his wife by having unprotected sex with her.

County Court Judge Graham Anderson sentenced 43-year-old Christopher Dennis Dirckze to a
total of four years and two months.

Dirckze had pleaded guilty to a charge of placing his wife in danger of serious injury by
having unprotected sex with her over three years.

He also pleaded guilty to two fraud charges involving a $1 million life insurance claim.

Dirckze, of suburban Glenhuntly, was ordered to serve a minimum non-parole term of three
years.

Judge Anderson said Dirckze was diagnosed as HIV positive in March 1994.

From then on he pursued a relationship with a woman he married in February 1996. Their
child was born in March of that year and they separated in March 1997.

"At no time before March 1997 was the accused's wife aware that he had been diagnosed as
HIV positive and at no time had he told her," said the judge.

Neither the accused's wife nor their child had become infected.

"Conduct of this nature deserves the strongest condemnation," Judge Anderson said.

"The lack of any explanation on the accused's part indicates that issues of specific
deterrence must be considered."

He said the absence of any remorse was "particularly troubling".

AAP sew/jlw/arb/de

KEYWORD: DIRCKZE SENTENCE

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