Padieu sentenced to 45 years in prison, must serve 221â„2 before parole
McKINNEY — An ex-convict turned suburban martial arts instructor was sentenced Friday, May 29 to 45 years in prison for knowingly infecting several women with the virus that causes AIDS.
Philippe Padieu, 53, was convicted this week of six counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon — his bodily fluids. Jurors deliberated about two hours before deciding on the 45-year sentence for five counts and 25 years for one, all to be served concurrently.
"He’s a self-centered narcissist who doesn’t care about anyone but himself and he will continue to hurt people," prosecutor Lisa King told jurors before the sentencing, noting that Padieu continued having unprotected sex after doctors told him not to.
"He gave them a death sentence; he deserves a life sentence," King said.
Padieu, of the Dallas suburb of Frisco, must serve at least 221â„2 years before he is eligible for parole.
"In reality this will be a life sentence for him," said Curtis Howard, an assistant district attorney.
Padieu’s attorney, Bennie House, said he would appeal. He called Padieu "a modern day Casanova," but said prosecutors took the case too far because the women consented to unprotected sex.
"By doing this, it absolutely opens the door for any STD prosecution," he said.
Ten women testified against Padieu during the two-week trial — all of them HIV positive and at least three with AIDS. They ranged in age from 27 to 60.
On Friday, seven of them took the stand to directly confront Padieu in victim impact statements.
"Philippe Padieu knowingly, intentionally and recklessly infected us with HIV," said Tricia Reeves, the only victim who testified using her real name. "We can only assume that by his indifference he intended us to die."
Several women said they took comfort in knowing that he would not be able to hurt anyone else again.
Another said the so-called lover of women in reality hated them, given his actions. Another called him a sociopath and questioned whether he had a soul.
"I hope someday I’ll get a phone call saying you died in prison," said one of the women.
One victim, a Dallas woman who was not part of the original case, said her family and friends will now "lose years of my love because I will die from this."
"Sometimes I consider suicide because it would be so much easier," she said.
Padieu testified Thursday, May 28, painting himself as a victim of angry women seeking revenge and prosecutors out for professional glory. He said the women had several partners so he could have gotten the virus from one of his accusers.
But prosecutors noted his dishonorable discharge from the Navy for poor conduct and the 61â„2 years he served in federal prison for robbing an officer at knifepoint as further proof of his poor character.
Although it was not the first HIV-aggravated assault case in Texas, Howard said it was significant because it was the first time DNA testing was used to show "the direction of transmission."
That meant Padieu was the source of infection for all the other women, Howard said.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition June 5, 2009.
I would be very interested to learn what is meant by DNA evidence in this case. Phylogenetic analysis at the level of the individual case can only confirm the fact that the HIV sub-type in the complainant is the same as that of defendant. Does anyone have any further information?