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I am a native Texan that left for good in 1969 mainly because of bigotry and I'm not surprised at the stupidity and ignornance of the Texas judicial system. It is obvious that Willie Campbell did not receive a good defense lawyer which is required by federal law. Once again, the Texas judicial system is showing it's prejudice against HIV positive people and many more minorities by their Nazi-like authority. No, Mr. Campbell should have not spit in the officer's eyes but he was probably provoked. We are all human and do crazy things sometimes. It's mind boggling that in this day and time the authorities in my former state are ignorant enough to believe that HIV can be spread through saliva! Idiots! What can we do to help Willie Campbell? Is there a defense fund that we may donate to for his appeal? Or is there going to be an appeal? This is outrageous! Let's all do something to help this poor man.
I am from a third world country Philippines but I am luckier because at least we don't experience that kind of ignorance in this country.
YOUR HONOR, UNSHACKLE THIS MAN NOW!
Indeed this case is deplorable and I sent the following email to my contacts when I read the news on May 15. Thu May 15, 6:32 AM ET - DALLAS - An HIV-positive man convicted of spitting into the eye and mouth of a Dallas police officer has been sentenced to 35 years in prison. Because a jury found that Willie Campbell used his saliva as a deadly weapon, the 42-year-old will have to serve half his sentence before becoming eligible for parole. He was sentenced Wednesday. Campbell was being arrested in May 2006 for public intoxication when he began resisting and kicking inside the patrol car, Dallas police office Dan Waller testified. Campbell was convicted of harassment of a public servant. Especially when you compare to the following: NEW YORK — Three detectives were acquitted of all charges Friday in the 50-shot killing of an unarmed man on his wedding day after a trial that that put the NYPD at the center of another highly charged case involving allegations of excessive firepower. FACTS - The virus that causes AIDS (SIDA in French and Spanish), is transmitted via blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk. To date, there have been no documented cases of HIV contraction from urine, sweat, and saliva. I sure hope the ruling will be appealed, then again, this is Texas...
I think passing judgement on this man for deadly assult is outrageous. What kind of crazy world are we living in? People are so ignorant anymore. No one reads anymore but then these people are suddenly experts on every subject. This man that was sentenced had a very uninformed lawyer that also did not explain that you cannot get aids by spitting in someones face. This ruling should be appealed and overturned!!!
Not condoning someone with HIV or someone with out to spit in some ones face, but oh my! The guy was arrested for public intoxication and look at Mel Gibson arrest. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article694765.ece I’m surprised this even made it to a jury. Was it truly a jury of his peers? I’m sure they didn’t have one HIV+ juror. Fear was the verdict and it’s 2 life sentence for this guy – a sentence of HIV, a disease classified of lasting longer then 6 months or causing your death and now 35 years in jail.
Apparently, after doing some research, Lambda Legal is aware of this. Their site does not specify if they have taken on this case however, anyone who wants to should write to Lambda inquiring if they plan to or are involves in this case. There was also an article in the NY Times with regard to this.
Bobby
I am Hiv negetive myself...and if someone with Hiv spit in my mouth or spit in my eye...not only would I be highly freaked out and disgusted with being spit on,but(and I am sorry to say this)would feel that thier was a real chance of infection. All of these comments that Hiv is not transmitted thru spit are false...there is a low risk,albeit an extremely low risk. Oral sex is also a low risk activity, spit is a bodily flood,Hiv is transmitted thru most bodily fluids. You are all apalled at the harsh sentence,as I am .But,given the chance you would erradicate Hiv from your body!!! How do you know what you would feel? If the man in question truly spit in the officer's face and then told him he had Aids he was trying to induce fear!!!That is a low life!!!No one wants to state the obvious,which is that this man was doing something wrong when the officer apprehended him or that he resisted arrest. Take a lesson from this...I think if you truly try to induce the fear that you have now tried to infect someone with a chronic and sometimes deadly desease then yes harsh consequences should follow. 35 years no, that is too harsh...a year to think out and straighten out your idiotic brain(and I am speaking solely of the offender)...at least. Please read and reread this comment. I am not afraid of people with HIV, in fact I work closely with an Hiv positive individual. If that person spit in my face and then told me..."ha ha ha,I have AIDS,...I would file assault charges without blinking. No one should be discriminated against...if you have a serious desease...then keep your bodily fluids to yourself!
May 29, 2008