'Woman scalded boyfriend after learning he was HIV positive'

'Woman scalded boyfriend after learning he was HIV positive'

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By Staff Reporter

A ZIMBABWEAN woman who scalded her boyfriend with boiling cooking oil in Luton, England, will tell a Crown Court jury that she reacted after learning that he was HIV positive, New Zimbabwe.com has been told.

Bianca Chikanya appeared briefly before a Luton court last Friday where she had charges against her read out before she was remanded in custody awaiting trial next month.

Her boyfriend Costa Chitamba, 34, was last night reported to be still in a critical condition at an Essex serious burns hospital after the incident on Sunday last week.

Sources close to the case told New Zimbabwe.com that Chikanya had told investigators that she got angry when she discovered Chitamba's alleged HIV status which he had kept away from her.

It could not be immediately established last night if she had tested positive to the virus that causes Aids.

"The scalding was a dastardly act by any standards but put in this context, people will understand why she did it," a source close to her legal team said, adding that the prosecution was unlikely to challenge her claims as medical checks had proved Chitamba to be HIV positive.

Legal sources last night told New Zimbabwe.com that Chikanya may get away with a lighter sentence if her claims about Chitamba's HIV status are upheld.

"Unlike in Zimbabwe, infecting someone with the HIV virus is as good as murder in the UK and this case may yet take a dramatic twist," said one lawyer. "Taking the claims to be true, we may even see charges being preferred against Chitamba. Juries tend to take a softer line on women caught in such a situation and it wouldn't be surprising if she walked free."
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