An inquest into the death of a man accused of deliberately infecting people with HIV has heard he was likely to have faced more serious charges.
Glenn Mills, 40, died while in custody at Mt Eden prison in 2009.
Mr Mills was found dead in his cell the morning before he was due to appear in court to face 28 charges relating to 14 men and women, seven of whom have been diagnosed with HIV.
Police told the coroner's court on Monday they were following up allegations that Mr Mills had drugged some victims to incapacitate them.
Detective Senior Sergeant Andrew King said more serious charges, including sexual violation, would have been laid had Mr Mills not died.
Mr King told the inquest that Mr Mills had been considered a suicide risk when arrested.
But Mt Eden Prison's health centre manager says Mr Mills was tested numerous times in the six months he was awaiting trial and was deemed not at risk of self-harm.
Mr King says Mr Mills was extremely sexually promiscuous and was a very high profile public health risk.
The coroner Katherine Grieg has reserved her findings in the inquest.
She says she intends to make recommendations that may prevent similar deaths in prison in the future.
