HIV INJECTION PROBE ATTACKED

ST. CHARLES, Mo. (AP) Lawyers for a man charged with injecting his
son with HIV-tainted blood say detectives who investigated the case
never questioned three intravenous drug users who had briefly lived
with the boy.

Brian Stewart's lawyer used the evidence Friday to suggest the boy
could have contracted the virus a number of other ways, especially
since drug users were in and out of the child's home.

Defense attorney Joe Murphy said other drug users may have been
discovered if the three had been questioned.

Stewart, 32, of Columbia, Ill., is on trial for first-degree assault.
If convicted, he could face life in prison. If his son dies, Stewart
could be charged with first-degree murder.

Authorities allege that Stewart, a phlebotomist whose job it was to
draw blood from hospital patients, injected the tainted blood into his
11-month-old son to avoid paying child support. The child was
diagnosed with AIDS four years later.

Three witnesses testified that they injected heroin, cocaine and crack
while living in the boy's home. All three are HIV-negative.

One of the witnesses said used syringes had been left in the house
where the boy could have come into contact with them. But the boy's
aunt, Veronica Kuda, said they always were diligent about disposing
the used needles.

Checked-by: Patrick Henry