A.I.D.S. robbery alleged

Press, 9 January 1987, Page 6

A.I.D.S. robbery alleged

NZPA-AAP . Sydney A herein addict claiming he had A.I.D.S. held up shop staff on Wednesday with a syringe containing his blood, Sydney’s Central Local Court was told yesterday. Gary Joseph Bell, aged 22, of Maroota, north of Sydney, faced a charge that while armed with an offensive instrument, a hypodermic syringe, he assaulted Jean Marie Crothers and Susan Jane French, robbing them of sAust7o ($B7).

He was also charged with assaulting Antonia Jean Soltau and Erminia D’Avanzo with intent to rob.

Bell was further

charged with possessing heroin, administering heroin to himself, and having equipment for its use.

The police prosecutor, Sergeant Brian Banks, who opposed bail, said Bell was a heroin addict who had told the police he does not have A.IJIS.

He allegedly went to an inner-city shoe shop yesterday and demanded money. Bell had threatened the two assistants with a syringe that he said contained his blood, which was infected * with A.1.D.5., Sergeant Banks said. After allegedly helping himself to sAust79 from

the till, he fled and entered the David Jones department store about half an hour later.

Sergeant Banks said Bell threatened two assistants with the syringe, but after Mrs Soltau closed the till and Mrs D’Avanzo elbowed him, he tried to flee the store and was arrested by security staff. Bell’s counsel, Peter Zahra, said his client was not a violent man and had no intention of striking anyone with the syringe. Bell wept when ball was refused by the magistrate, Arthur Riedel, who adjourned the matter to January 16.