A transgender, HIV-positive prostitute accused of passing the disease on to a client has pleaded not guilty in a Perth court.  Clayton James Palmer, who advertised her services under the name Sienna Fox, appeared in Perth Magistrates Court via videolink from the maximum-security Casuarina Prison for males on Thursday.  When Magistrate Steven Heath appeared confused as to why lawyer Simon Freitag referred to his client as a she, Mr Freitag said Palmer identified as a female and it was unfortunate she was in a male prison.  Palmer, 38, was extradited from NSW earlier this year and has previously had two bail attempts knocked back.  She was initially detained at Hakea remand prison, which is also for males, and any decision about moving her to a female facility can only be made by prison authorities.  According to police, one of her male clients was diagnosed with HIV in September after having unprotected sex with her between January and August last year, and had no other sexual partners during that time.  Police claim Palmer knew she was infected with HIV but kept having sex with the man for money.  But Palmer's other lawyer Martin Muk previously told the court his client, originally from New Zealand, was in a consensual relationship with the complainant and there was no payment or money involved.  Mr Muk denied his client ever knew she had HIV and was shocked to learn of the complainant's diagnosis.  The lawyer also denied police claims Palmer fled to Sydney after being confronted by the man and continued to advertise her services, saying she travelled there about two months later to visit a friend.  The matter has been sent to the District Court of WA for a trial listing on October 21.
A transgender prostitute accused of passing on HIV to a male client is fighting a grievous bodily harm charge.