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HIV-infected man in court: rape in clinic shocks Cologne!
Trial begins on July 16, 2025 in Cologne: Two men, including an HIV-positive man, charged with rape in the LVR Clinic Merheim.
HIV-infected man in court: rape in clinic shocks Cologne!
On July 16, 2025, a trial began before the 7th Large Criminal Chamber of the Cologne Regional Court that is causing waves in the region. At the center are two men, 37 and 35 years old, who are accused of raping a woman in the closed ward of the LVR Clinic Cologne-Merheim. The crime is said to have taken place on October 19, 2024, when the men spoke to the woman in a friendly manner and offered her tea or coffee before pulling her into a lounge and attacking her. Particularly frightening: One of the defendants is HIV-positive and is said to have consciously accepted that he would infect the woman. The second defendant filmed the crime.
A witness noticed the situation and heard the woman's cries for help, but the defendant closed the door to hide what was happening. A forensic report from the State Criminal Police Office found traces of semen on the woman's surgical gown, which identified both men as the common cause. The defendants did not comment on the allegations during the trial, but plan to respond in writing. The police officer who acted as a witness reported that the woman was visibly frightened and said several times: “They fucked me.”
The dimension of the allegations
In addition to rape, the charge also includes the accusation of attempted grievous bodily harm. The exact background and circumstances of the crime will be examined in detail during the twelve days of negotiations scheduled until the end of October. The next day of the trial is scheduled for July 18, 2025, on which nurses, a doctor and the alleged injured party are expected to testify.
The connection between HIV and sexual violence is an issue that plays a role not only in this case, but also worldwide. According to the website medicusmundi.ch, women who experience sexual violence are up to three times more likely to become infected with HIV. This is particularly dramatic in regions like South Africa, where a woman is raped every eight minutes and over 20,000 children are affected every year.
Social challenges
Particularly alarming is the fact that one in three rapists is HIV positive, further increasing the risk of infection for victims. This connection between sexual violence and HIV is rarely openly discussed, although it is significant. Studies show that in the sub-Saharan region a quarter of all newly HIV-infected girls and women have been victims of sexual violence. In conflict areas, rape is often used as a weapon of war, leading to even higher infection rates.
Affected women not only experience direct violence, but also often experience discrimination in the health system. Mandatory HIV testing is often made a prerequisite for medical care, which many see as additional violence.
The juries in the Cologne district court are faced with the challenge of not only clarifying the crimes, but also considering the far-reaching social implications. It remains to be hoped that this process will not only bring justice to those affected, but will also help to shed light on the serious connections between sexual violence and HIV. It is time for society to talk more intensively and openly about this issue.