A REFUGEE has been cleared of causing grievous bodily harm to one of the four women he was accused of deliberately infecting with HIV.

The jury in the trial of African asylum-seeker Feston Konzani, 28, was yesterday directed by the judge to return a formal verdict of not guilty.

It had been alleged that the musician unlawfully and maliciously inflicted grievous bodily harm on the 37-year-old Teesside woman during their relationship in early 1999, while he was living in Middlesbrough.

But after the end of the prosecution case yesterday, it was agreed there was no evidence to support the charge, as Mr Konzani was not aware he had the virus until November 2000.

The jury is expected to retire at Teesside Crown Court tomorrow to consider its verdicts on the other three charges against Mr Konzani.

Barristers representing the prosecution and the defence will today give their closing speeches. Judge Peter Fox is expected to sum up the case this afternoon.

Mr Konzani, of Albany Street, Middlesbrough, yesterday declined the opportunity to go into the witness box, following advice from his legal team.

Earlier, the jury had heard details of lengthy interviews he gave to police following his arrest last November.

He repeatedly told detectives he did not know how he contracted the virus, and said: "I wish I had known, because maybe I could have the chance of taking somebody to court."

Mr Konzani came to Britain from Malawi in 1998 with the help of a British diplomat with whom he was said to have had a gay relationship in Africa.

Initially, he claimed the diplomat could have infected him, but tests showed the man did not carry the virus.

Mr Konzani is alleged to have deliberately infected a 15-year-old from Middlesbrough, a 26-year-old woman from Tyneside and an African student between November 2000 and August last year.

During interviews, he told police of the effect on him of being diagnosed with HIV.

"In every way my life has been changed, so much so I don't even know who I am," he said.

The trial continues.