http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=124&objectid=10419283
NZ Herald
January 15 2007; 05:00
Charlene's body still waiting in morgue
NZPA
Charlene Makaza
The family of a 10-year-old
Christchurch girl police believe was suffocated in her bed have yet to claim
her body six days after the coroner released it for burial.
Zimbabwe immigrant Charlene Makaza
was found in bed having breathing difficulties on January 6 and died without
regaining consciousness early the next morning.
Police are saying little about
progress in their homicide investigation.
Media reports that Charlene had been
sexually abused before she was suffocated have drawn a firm "no
comment" from homicide investigation head Detective Inspector Malcolm
Johnston.
A Child Youth and Family spokeswoman
has confirmed that Charlene's 12-year-old sister had been taken into care, but
would not say why.
Charlene lived with her adoptive
aunt and uncle in Christchurch and her sister and two cousins aged 20 and 24.
She and her sister emigrated from
Zimbabwe about two years ago after the death of their parents some years
earlier.
Police have ruled out any involvement
of an intruder and are concentrating inquiries on interviews with members of
the family who were at the house when she was found.
Police won't reveal the extent of
Charlene's injuries and are awaiting results of a second post-mortem
examination.
Mr Johnston said the family had been
told several times that the coroner had signed the authority to release
Charlene's body.