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- Date Submitted: 08/27/2010 02:10 AM
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Suspended sentence for German HIV singer Nadja Benaissa
Nadja Benaissa had faced up to 10 years in prison
An HIV-positive German pop star accused of infecting a former partner with the virus has been given a two-year suspended prison sentence.
Nadja Benaissa, 28, was found guilty on one count of causing grievous bodily harm and two of attempted bodily harm.
The No Angels singer had admitted having unprotected sex and keeping her HIV status secret, but denied deliberately infecting anyone.
At the trial, she said she was "sorry from the bottom of my heart".
"I wish I could turn back the clock and make it all not happen," she told the court in the western town of Darmstadt.
As well as the two-year suspended sentence, Benaissa will be required to perform 300 hours of community service and attend regular counselling sessions.
'Cowardly'
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At the scene
Tristana MooreBBC News, Darmstadt
Nadja Benaissa left the courtroom without giving any interviews to the dozens of reporters who had watched the proceedings, but her lawyer said she was very pleased with the sentence.
"I can't say whether she's going back on stage because I'm not her manager but I'm sure she'll crack open a champagne bottle tonight," Oliver Wallasch told the BBC.
One No Angels fan, who didn't want to give his name, said he'd travelled to Darmstadt because he wanted to show the pop star that she still had lots of supporters.
"It's disgusting that her private life has been dragged through the courts and the media - I think she's been treated really unfairly," he said.
Another fan said she was disappointed that Nadja Benaissa hadn't told her former lovers that she was HIV-positive. "But the guys could have also used a condom - it's not just Nadja's fault," she said.
Benaissa had sex with three people without telling them she was infected with HIV. One of them, a 34-year-old talent agent who was a plaintiff in the...
Nadja Benaissa had faced up to 10 years in prison
An HIV-positive German pop star accused of infecting a former partner with the virus has been given a two-year suspended prison sentence.
Nadja Benaissa, 28, was found guilty on one count of causing grievous bodily harm and two of attempted bodily harm.
The No Angels singer had admitted having unprotected sex and keeping her HIV status secret, but denied deliberately infecting anyone.
At the trial, she said she was "sorry from the bottom of my heart".
"I wish I could turn back the clock and make it all not happen," she told the court in the western town of Darmstadt.
As well as the two-year suspended sentence, Benaissa will be required to perform 300 hours of community service and attend regular counselling sessions.
'Cowardly'
Continue reading the main story
-------------------------------------------------
At the scene
Tristana MooreBBC News, Darmstadt
Nadja Benaissa left the courtroom without giving any interviews to the dozens of reporters who had watched the proceedings, but her lawyer said she was very pleased with the sentence.
"I can't say whether she's going back on stage because I'm not her manager but I'm sure she'll crack open a champagne bottle tonight," Oliver Wallasch told the BBC.
One No Angels fan, who didn't want to give his name, said he'd travelled to Darmstadt because he wanted to show the pop star that she still had lots of supporters.
"It's disgusting that her private life has been dragged through the courts and the media - I think she's been treated really unfairly," he said.
Another fan said she was disappointed that Nadja Benaissa hadn't told her former lovers that she was HIV-positive. "But the guys could have also used a condom - it's not just Nadja's fault," she said.
Benaissa had sex with three people without telling them she was infected with HIV. One of them, a 34-year-old talent agent who was a plaintiff in the...