Nadja Benaissa, 28, who had admitted having unprotected sex with three men when she knew she was HIV positive, and infecting a former partner, has received a two-year suspended sentence. She had been charged with dangerous bodily harm. Under German law, a person can be sued if they are HIV positive and have (unprotected) sex with a partner without telling them about their HIV status.

Benaissa had had unprotected sex while HIV positive with three men without telling them about her HIV status.

As she had clearly showed remorse for her actions, prosecutors asked the court for leniency.

Benaissa, from the music group No Angels apologized to the court for having unprotected sex with the three men and infecting one of them.

Benaissa had told the justices at the District Court of Darmstadt:

I am sorry with all my heart. (I was) careless during those days. In no way did I want my partner to be infected.

She was arrested in April 2009 in Frankfurt, Germany, just as she was getting ready for a solo concert, and was held in custody for ten days. A sexual partner had made a complaint to the authorities in 2008.

Benaissa says she became aware of her HIV status when she became pregnant and had a prenatal checkup - she said she was "totally surprised".

According to prosecutors, Benaissa had been aware of her HIV status since 1999. A co-claimant, her former lover said she infected him in 2004 (a claimant is somebody who brings a civil action in court, formerly known as a plaintiff). In an AIDS charity gala in 2009 Benaissa admitted in front of her audience that she was HIV positive.

The trial took place in a juvenile court because Benaissa was 17 when she became infected. She is alleged to have had sex with three men up to five times between 2000 and 2004.

The No Angels is an all-female German pop group, consisting of Nadja Benaissa, Lucy Diakovska, Sandy Mölling, and Jessica Wahls. Established in the early 2000s, it has won many awards, including three ECHOs, a World Music Awards, a NRJ Music Award, two Comets, a Bambi and a Goldene Kamera.