Sunday Star Times
January 14 2007

Dead girl's sister put in care amid sex claims
by Deidre Mussen

The sister of dead schoolgirl Charlene Makaza has been taken into care amid allegations someone sexually assaulted Charlene before killing her.

Police are refusing to comment on reports that Charlene, 10, was sexually assaulted before she was suffocated in her Christchurch home last Saturday.

Charlene lived at the rental property in Hollyford Ave, Bryndwr, with her 12-year-old sister, aunt, uncle, and two cousins aged 20 and 24. The girls' parents died when they were young and the girls had emigrated from Zimbabwe to New Zealand to live with extended family about two years ago.

A Child Youth and Family spokeswoman yesterday confirmed Charlene's sister had been taken into CYF custody, but would not say why.

Last Saturday, Charlene's aunt and uncle found her unconscious and having difficulty breathing in her bed. She was taken to Christchurch Hospital, but never recovered and died at 1am the next day. A post mortem showed she had been suffocated, but results from a second post mortem are expected this week. Other test results, including swabs from her body, are also awaited.

Last week a Zimbabwean community leader claimed Charlene's death was the result of pneumonia.

Police emphasised the house showed no evidence an intruder broke in. All family members were home when Charlene was found unconscious.

"We don't have any specific suspects," homicide investigation head Detective Inspector Malcolm Johnston said on Friday.

Yesterday, a relative said the family was not talking further to media and had appointed a lawyer to represent them.

Police had spoken with the family and inquiries were ongoing.

Yesterday afternoon, Charlene's body remained at the hospital morgue despite it being released to the family last Tuesday. The family expects to decide this week whether it will return her body to Zimbabwe.

Neighbours described the family as "very nice" and "quiet people who kept to themselves".

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CAPTION:

Far left, dead girl Charlene Makaza. Left, her friends and family outside the house.