ZIMBABWEAN REFUGEE SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT AFTER KNOWINGLY SPREADING HIV
Mar 31, 2009
A REFUGEE FROM ZIMBABWE HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON IN VICTORIA FOR AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ASSAULT.
36-YEAR-OLD CHARLES MZITE KNEW HE WAS HIV POSITIVE BEFORE HE CAME TO CANADA IN 2001. HE HAD SEXUAL RELATIONS WITH FOUR WOMEN HERE -- ONE OF THEM HAS SUBSEQUENTLY BEEN TESTED AS HIV POSITIVE.
SUPREME COURT JUSTICE ROBERT JOHNSTON GAVE MZITE TWO YEARS LESS A DAY ON EACH OF THREE COUNTS AND FOUR YEARS ON THE OTHER.
THE SENTENCES ARE TO BE SERVED CONSECUTIVELY, WHICH MEANS THE TERMS ARE ADDED TO ONE ANOTHER.
THE JUDGE SAID HE IS COGNIZANT OF THE LIKELIHOOD MZITE'S REFUGEE STATUS WILL BE REVOKED AND HE MAY BE DEPORTED.
THAT WILL BE UP TO THE MINISTER OF IMMIGRATION BASED ON A RECOMMENDATION FROM BORDER SERVICES AGENCY STAFF.
NORMALLY, A REFUGEE LIKE MZITE HAS A RIGHT TO APPEAL A DEPORTATION ORDER.
THAT RIGHT IS LOST WHEN ONE IS SENTENCED TWO MORE THAN TWO YEARS FOR CRIMES COMMITTED IN CANADA.
- ADAM STIRLING / FMS
