NEWSFLASH! Craig Lamar Davis, a former pastor was found guilty yesterday (January 21, 2014) of having sex with women without disclosing his HIV status.
[READ: Former Pastor Accused of Knowingly Spreading HIV Faces Judge in 2 Counties (VIDEO)]
During his trial in Clayton County, Ga., Davis? lawyers claimed that his HIV diagnosis was inaccurate. They suggested that Davis? results were wrong because of his crack addiction and even brought in an expert witness to detail how HIV tests aren’t accurate.
However, prosecutors won the case by pointing out that Davis continued to take anti-viral medication to treat the virus and a Clayton county jury determined that Davis had unprotected sex with several women knowing that he was infected with HIV.
Details + watch video of the victim’s response to the verdict below…
?We are pleased with the verdict,? said Kathryn Powers, deputy chief assistant district attorney, one of three prosecutors in the case, told the Journal-Constitution.
?They (jury) were able to weigh the validity of testimony of people who don?t believe AIDS or HIV exist.?
The jury reached a verdict Friday, but decided to wait until Tuesday (January 21, 2014) (after the MLK holiday) to deliver the verdict.
Davis , who is now divorced, was a married minister when he had an affair with at least two women in his congregation and had unprotected sex without telling either that he was HIV positive.
Ronita McAfee (pictured) was one of the women involved in the case.
?As Ronita was upset, panicky, thoughts running through her mind, the defendant?s reaction was to tell her, ?don?t worry about it. It?s not a death sentence,?? Powers said during the trail.
??Don?t you worry about it. There is medicine you can take if you catch it early.??
Davis? attorney, John Turner, contended that his client never had sex with McAfee and described her as a ?nutcase.?
The harsh name calling did not surprise McAfee.
In what may have been the oddest development during the trial, an expert witness for the defense testified during that Davis? crack cocaine use at the time of his test may have caused him to be misdiagnosed for HIV. They also testified that no test on the market can definitively determine is someone has the virus.?I didn?t not expect it,? she said. ?I expected it to be said. I just stayed strong in my convictions and continuously moved forward.?
After my first update about the case, an investigator for the defense contacted me regarding this bizarre statement, stating:
from: Elizabeth Ely
to: StraightFromTheA
cc: Clark Baker
date: Fri, Jan 17, 2014 at 1:03 AMDear Atlien,
I read your January 16 update on the Craig Lamar Davis case, currently being tried in court. Thanks for covering this very important case.
I work with the Office of Medical and Scientific Justice, which is supplying expert scientific witnesses to the defense. It is indeed true that we intend to show that the “HIV test,” in whatever form, is insufficient to declare a person infected with a virus that causes AIDS. As crazy as that seems. It’s not so crazy; OMSJ has successfully aided in the defense of 56 people over the past five years, using experts that always base their testimony on the flaws of the test. This has not been widely reported in the media, but you may be among the first to break the story in Atlanta when the Davis verdict is handed down.
I can provide you with scientific background, experts, and information about OMSJ’s work in this area. That way, when the verdict is read, you’ll be ready to cover the story with a good understanding of what it might mean.
Currently, OMSJ is under a gag order by the court. But that can’t stop me from helping you understand the basic science here. This is big: A verdict in Mr. Davis’ favor, based on the testimony against the validity of the “HIV test” as given or threatened in 56 other cases, would spread some vital news that could protect a lot of people from misdiagnoses of HIV and AIDS.
Can we talk? You can reach me at (number removed). I can put you in front of the pack in covering this story. You’ll be better prepared then to report the verdict.
Yours,
ELIZABETH ELY
Investigator
Clearly Craig Lamar Davis was found guilty despite the testimony of the ‘expert’ witness claiming HIV tests are inaccurate.
One of the victims said that she had sex with Davis four times and he never told her of his status.
Davis claims that he told another woman of his status and she continued to sleep with him. She said they had sex six or more times each week.? That woman has tested positive for HIV and he still faces charges in her case in Fulton County.
Davis was convicted yesterday in Clayton County of HIV-reckless conduct. He could face 20 years in prison.
RELATED: HIV Church Scandal: Did This Minister Knowingly Spread HIV Throughout Congregation?