Plea nears for transgender HIV accused

A transgender prostitute accused of infecting a West Australian man with HIV will enter a plea at her next court appearance.

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 Friday, charged with grievous bodily harm.

Palmer, 38, who was extradited from NSW earlier this year and has previously had two bail attempts knocked back, will enter a plea when she next appears in court on July 28, her lawyer Simon Freitag said.

One of Palmer's male clients was allegedly diagnosed with HIV in September after having unprotected sex with her between January and August last year, and police prosecutors said the complainant had no other sexual partners during that time.

Police claimed 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 been infected 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 complainant and continued to advertise her services, saying she travelled there about two months later to visit a friend.

Palmer was initially detained at Hakea remand prison, which is also for males, and it will be up to prison authorities to determine whether she should be moved to a female facility.