An HIV-positive acrobat has been sentenced to jail for infecting his girlfriend with the virus. Source: AAP
A WOMAN who was infected with HIV by her circus acrobat boyfriend has told a Gold Coast court the condition has ruined friendships and cast a shadow over her life.
Godfrey Zaburoni, 34, was sentenced to nine and a half years' jail at Southport District Court on Thursday after being found guilty of deliberately giving the woman the virus during their nearly two-year relationship in 2007 and 2008.
A jury took just over two hours to reach their verdict, with the decision drawing gasps and tears of relief from the woman and her supporters.
The woman, who cannot be identified, told the court she had felt "lost and alone" following her diagnosis.
"I thought I was going to die from this disease," she said in a victim impact statement.
Since her relationship with Zaburoni ended in September 2008, she has married, mothered a child and is pregnant again.
She said her condition had caused her psychological, financial and physical difficulties and made her decision to have children particularly difficult.
"My husband and I would never have forgiven ourselves if my son had contacted HIV.
"My son is (HIV) negative, but I cannot breastfeed and I have been judged and ridiculed by other mothers.
"There is no such thing as normal when it comes to my life anymore.
"I would love to have more children, but I'm terrified about the thought of passing the infection on."
Daily medication to control the virus frequently left her exhausted and caused her eyes to turn yellow, while the stigma of her HIV-positive status meant she hadn't visited a dentist since her diagnosis.
Zimbabwe-born Zaburoni, facing a maximum sentence of life imprisonment for the charge, swayed and constantly wrung his hands as Judge Julie Dick handed down her sentence.
Crown prosecutor Mark Whitbread had asked for a minimum 10-year sentence, while Zaburoni's lawyer requested seven to eight years.
Judge Dick said Zaburoni had shown elements of remorse, but she also had to consider the impact on the victim.
"No sentence I impose can make that right for her," she said.
No recommendation for parole was given.
Outside court, Zaburoni's lawyer hinted that his client would appeal.
"Watch this space," barrister John McInnes told reporters.
Zaburoni is only the second person in Queensland legal history to be convicted of deliberately transmitting a serious infectious disease.
Judge Dick prevented a written apology from Zaburoni being read out in court after the woman said in her statement she had rejected an approach to receive it.
"He's proven his sincerity is not to be trusted," she said.
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