HERALD SUN, Australia's biggest-selling daily newspaper

Expert witness says HIV 'doesn't exist'
By Todd Cardy, December 19, 2006 06:35pm
Article from: AAP

A PERTH medical researcher has told an Adelaide court that Africa does not have an AIDS crisis because HIV does not exist.

Eleni Papadopulos-Eleopulos today told the South Australian Court of Criminal Appeal that no one had proven that HIV exists.

Ms Papadopulos-Eleopulos is a witness in the appeal case of Andre Chad Parenzee, 35, who was convicted on January 31 this year of endangering the lives of three women.

Parenzee had unprotected sex with the women, knowing he was HIV-positive.

One of the women, a mother of two, became infected with HIV while the other two tested negative to the virus.

Parenzee's lawyer, Kevin Borick, QC, argued Parenzee could not have committed the crimes because HIV does not exist.

Under cross examination today from Prosecutor Sandi McDonald, Ms Papadopulos-Eleopulos, a medical engineer from Royal Perth Hospital, dismissed recent World Health Organisation and United Nations reports that outline the world AIDS epidemic.

Ms Papadopulos-Eleopulos said there was no published reports that conclude HIV exists or could be linked to AIDS.

The 5000 people who signed the Durban Declaration in 2000, which says AIDS was an epidemic in Africa, linked to HIV and spread by sexual contact, were backed by politicians, not scientists, she said.

"I am a scientist, I look for science - I do not look for consensus,'' she told the court.

"There is no massive epidemic of HIV infections because no one has proven it.''

Ms Papadopulos-Eleopulos denied she was appearing at the case to gain publicity for her theories and her research organisation, the Perth Group.

The Perth Group, which Ms Papadopulos-Eleopulos heads, believes there is no link between HIV and AIDS.

Parenzee's appeal application continues tomorrow before Justice John Sulan.
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Eleni Papadopulos-Eleopulos is currently testifying in the criminal
case of Andre Parenzee, charged with endangering three women by
having unprotected sex while being HIV-positive:

http://www.news.com.au:80/heraldsun/story/0,21985,20953506-5005961,00.ht...

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the 10 people who donated
a total of over AUS$9000 towards the defense of this case. This paid
for the travel of the Perth Group to Adelaide to continue
participating in the trial, and many other of the expenses in this
case. In the future the funds will probably also cover the expense
getting transcripts of other court cases from other countries (which
can be very expensive when they need to be transcribed from audio to
text) and paying expert witnesses who may be less inclined to give
their time without charge. The money is being spent carefully and it
will last some time into the new year. I don't want to give too many
details to risk strategic information leaking out.

Even with the top defense lawyer Kevin Borick working for free, and
the Perth Group testifying without charge, there are still many
expenses, and it's great to see that the relatives of Andre Parenzee
do not have to give up on this case due to lack of funds (which is
where this was heading).

I would like to also thank those of you who offered to give money
even though it was clear that you couldn't afford it. I do note that
there are many more dissidents out there who probably could have
given a little, but so far haven't. You will be hearing from me in
the new year if this case continues, as we expect it to, and
regarding other important legal cases.

If we are to knock AID$ Inc. down a few notches, we need to work
together and focus on cases where we see that we can make a real
difference. Everyone needs to understand that a legal case might be
about one person, but every HIV+ person will benefit if the shackles
of AIDS are broken. Money's not the only thing we need, awareness
raising is also important. Share this current press article with
people who might be interested. Let them know this debate is alive
and well.

I think we all know what we'd like under the tree ... a "Get out of
AIDS Free" card. We are getting closer. Maybe not this year, but next
perhaps.

- David Crowe