US: A former Washington DC government worker, who has known since 1996 that he has the Aids virus, has been sentenced to a 21-year prison term for luring women and teenage girls into sexual relationships without telling them of the risks.
Sundiata Basir (34), a former assistant to a deputy mayor, had unprotected sex with at least seven partners in what prosecutors called "a stunning picture of criminal recklessness". Four women and girls, including a 15-year-old, later discovered they had the Aids virus, prosecutors said.
Basir offered no apologies on Thursday in DC Superior Court, declaring: "I'm not going to say anything. Every time I say something, I get another case."
The judge called Basir a "violent, self-absorbed outlaw", and prosecutors expressed concern about the broader impact of his behaviour. Basir had sex with an unknown number of others who might be spreading the virus, they said.
Because of the number and ages of victims and the threat to public health, prosecutors said Basir's case is particularly outrageous. They noted that Washington already faces a HIV crisis: one in 20 residents is infected with the Aids virus.
Basir pleaded guilty in July to child sexual abuse, cruelty to children and attempted aggravated assault.
Prosecutors said Basir never warned his partners, though some asked him to use a condom. He ignored the advice of his sister - a doctor - who said he could transmit the disease if he failed to take precautions, they said.
Basir has fathered seven children by six women and girls, prosecutors said. None of the children have been diagnosed with HIV. Even after marrying one of his victims - aged 17 - Basir mentioned nothing about his medical condition, they said.
The case against Basir focused on his activities from 1996 until his arrest in 2003. Assistant US attorney Alex Grant said Basir was "pure evil", a liar who did not care whether the women and girls lived or died.
"When Basir was exposing people to the HIV virus, he was doing it to the mother of his child, his wife . . . He took advantage of that trust," Mr Grant said.
Judge Robert I Richter attempted to delve into Basir's motivation, telling the defendant, "Mr Matthews [defence lawyer] said your mind is not functioning clearly."
Basir blamed his conduct on his medical condition, which he said led to three nervous breakdowns.
"I was in complete denial," he said. "I didn't want to believe I had it . . . It's not every day you hear that you're going to die."
In addition to the prison term, Judge Richter ordered Basir to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
US attorney Kenneth L Wainstein said Basir "played a game of Russian roulette with the lives of the young women and girls".