Name suppression for Chakanyuka lapsed at 5pm yesterday -- nearly three weeks after he was jailed for more than eight years for wilfully infecting his 33-year-old wife with HIV -- and police almost immediately launched a public plea directed at women who may have had contact with the HIV-infected Chakanyuka.
"We have been able to determine that the offender has been sexually active with other women in the Auckland area over the last few years," Counties Manukau police Detective Simon Jeffries said.
"Anyone who hasn't already been in touch with police or health services regarding contact with this man and who has concerns for their health, should contact a doctor or health provider as soon as possible."
Chakanyuka had stabbed his wife with needles contaminated with his blood to infect her with HIV so she would have sex with him again.
There was nothing to suggest Chakanyuka had worn a condom or taken precautions to avoid infecting his other partners, said Justice Ailsa Duffy, who sentenced Duffy to eight years and four months jail on February 3.
She said there was "uncontested evidence" that Chakanyuka had had sex with other women who ought to be told of the risks they and their existing or potential partners now faced.
The Crown was concerned that there was nothing to indicate that Chakanyuka had told the other women he was HIV-positive or that he had practised safe sex with them, she said.
Justice Duffy initially granted interim suppression of Chakanyuka's name so his wife's lawyer, Lester Cordwell, could argue for continued suppression to avoid identifying her as the victim.
However, after a hearing last week Justice Duffy ruled against continuing name suppression, though acknowledging that would likely identify the woman. No appeal against that was filed by 5pm yesterday.
Eamonn Smythe, the New Zealand Aids Foundation's (NZAF) director of positive health services, encouraged anyone who had had sex with the man to get tested as soon as possible.
"This is a very lonely and worrying situation to be in but help is available -- it's much better to know, and have support, than to struggle in isolation and uncertainty."
Testing equipment used by the foundation returned results in 20 minutes, were almost painless and were totally confidential. The NZAF also provides free therapeutic services nationwide with qualified counsellors and psychotherapists before and after testing, for both positive and negative results.
