German pop star in AIDS infection case avoids jail

AN HIV-positive pop star broke down in tears yesterday after a German court handed her a two-year suspended sentence for infecting a former sex partner with the virus.

The court in Darmstadt, western Germany, convicted 28-year-old Nadja Benaissa, a member of girl group No Angels, on one count of grievous bodily harm and two counts of attempted bodily harm.

Presiding judge Dennis Wacker also ordered her to do 300 hours of community service, saying the relatively light sentence was appropriate because she had “learned to be responsible and deal with her illness”.