Libya HIV-AIDS case: D-Day looms

TRIPOLI – The verdict in the retrial of five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor previously sentenced to death for allegedly infecting more than 400 Libyan children with HIV-AIDS will be announced on December 19, the presiding judge said Saturday.

The six defendants, held in Libya since 1999, were previously convicted on the same charge and handed death sentences in 2004, but Libya’s Supreme Court ordered a new trial last year after international protests. All defendants deny the accusations.Europe, the United States and human rights groups accused Libya of concocting the charges to cover up poor hygiene conditions at its hospitals.Judge Mahmoud Hawissa announced the date of the new verdict at the end of Saturday’s trial session – the first during which the Bulgarian nurses were permitted to speak.The defendants said they had never intentionally infected children.”No doctor or nurse would dare commit such a dreadful crime,” said one of the jailed nurses, Cristiana Valcheva, adding that she sympathised with the victims and their families.Valentina Siropulo, another defendant, appealed to the judges not to again sentence her to death.”I have never done anything illegal, and I can’t imagine such a tragic end to my life.”At least 50 of the 400 children infected have since died and 300 are undergoing HIV-AIDS treatment in Europe.Nampa-APAll defendants deny the accusations.Europe, the United States and human rights groups accused Libya of concocting the charges to cover up poor hygiene conditions at its hospitals.Judge Mahmoud Hawissa announced the date of the new verdict at the end of Saturday’s trial session – the first during which the Bulgarian nurses were permitted to speak.The defendants said they had never intentionally infected children.”No doctor or nurse would dare commit such a dreadful crime,” said one of the jailed nurses, Cristiana Valcheva, adding that she sympathised with the victims and their families.Valentina Siropulo, another defendant, appealed to the judges not to again sentence her to death.”I have never done anything illegal, and I can’t imagine such a tragic end to my life.”At least 50 of the 400 children infected have since died and 300 are undergoing HIV-AIDS treatment in Europe.Nampa-AP