The Richard Schmidt case may sound like an episode from a crime show, but it’s a true story that affected real people. On Thursday the former doctor convicted of attempted second degree murder was denied parole after serving seventeen years of his sentence.

Schmidt testified before a three person panel.  He faced strong opposition from the 15th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, the victim and the victim’s family.  Assistant District Attorney Daniel Landry, who attended the hearing, says it was an emotional event. “It’s a very tragic situation the family was obviously overwhelmed you can see physically the injections of HIV and hepatitis is catching up with her and it is probably going to be what will ultimately cause her loss of life it was very tough on her it was very tough on the family.”

In 1996 the former doctor used HIV and Hepatitis C tainted blood from two patients to inject his girlfriend after she ended their relationship. District Attorney Keith Stutes was the lead prosecutor in the trial.  He says the case had bizarre circumstances.  In fact, it was the first time in a U.S. criminal that viral DNA was used to prove a connection between two HIV positive people.

“It was a case of circumstantial evidence. It was also a case that we had to utilize for the first time I believe in the country viral DNA evidence it was not your typical DNA evidence as we’ve come to know it was a new way of comparing viruses.”

The District Attorney’s Office is satisfied with the panel’s decision to deny parole. “The parole board heard the necessary evidence, due process was observed and once again justice was accomplished.”

Schmidt will not be eligible for good time release until 2013.