HIV rape accused 'deliberately wrecked lives'

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A man accused of infecting seven men with HIV "deliberately wrecked" their lives, prosecutors have said.

Adam Hall, 43, is accused of having unprotected sex with young men he met online or at bars in Newcastle without telling them he was HIV positive and while knowing he was infectious.

Hall, 43 and from Washington, denies raping five men and seven counts of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent, claiming instead he is the victim of a conspiracy.

In her closing speech to jurors, Kama Melly KC said the "brave young men" had been "utterly traumatised" by their experiences with Hall.

The court has heard Hall was diagnosed with HIV in August 2010 for which he was prescribed medication to keep the virus at undetectable, or non-infectious, levels.

Prosecutors said Hall liked to be "dominant" sexually and wanted to pass the illness on.

Over seven days in the witness box, Hall said he told sexual partners of his diagnosis, took precautions to prevent it spreading and one of his accusers said they wanted to have sex with someone who was HIV positive.

He also said there was a conspiracy against him but he had "no idea" why.

Melly said Hall had raped five men and "deliberately" infected four of them and three others, who had consented to sex, with HIV.

"He is a man who has deliberately wrecked the lives of the young men who were unfortunate enough to come across him," the prosecutor said.

She said the "brave young men" had given "powerful testimony" and were prepared to "talk about the most intimate personal and sexual details" in a courtroom full of strangers.

She told jurors they were "young men who you might think had been utterly traumatised by their experiences" with Hall.

The "scientific evidence", timeline and descriptions given by the complainants showed the prosecution's case against Hall was "correct", the court was told.

Melly said each complainant gave a similar account of dealing with Hall and jurors could see who the defendant "really" was from messages he sent.

"In each count you have the words of all the other men who tell you much the same thing happened to them," she said.

Dismissing Hall's conspiracy claims, Melly said there was "no realistic link" between the men.

She said the complainants were not seeking to "frame an innocent man" and jurors could be sure "each of them told you what happened because it happened".

Hall did not tell people he had HIV when he knew he did and was "well aware" he could transmit the virus, Melly said.

He was "a man who clearly enjoys dominance over another man", especially during sex, and would "carry on" even when it was made clear to him his sexual partner was "no longer consenting", the prosecutor added.

Hall had "made deliberate choices to ensure he inflicted this harm" and "knew precisely" what it would mean for the men he infected, Melly said.

Doctors had been "deeply concerned" by his behaviour and told him "over and over" about how to reduce the risks of transmission which he did not follow, the court heard.

Hall's legal team is yet to give their closing speech.

Jurors have been told by Judge Edward Bindloss they must focus on the evidence and not be sidetracked by sympathy or moral concerns.

The trial continues.

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