http://www.tv3.co.nz/News/NewsDisplay/tabid/209/articleID/18944/Default.aspx
Three News
January 18 2007; 20:26
Police confirm 10-year-old suffered sexual assault before she died
Police have confirmed that a
10-year-old Christchurch girl who died of suspected suffocation also suffered a
vicious sexual attack.
According to police, the post-mortem
on Charlene Makaza revealed serious injuries consistent with a violent sexual
assault.
Inquiry head Malcolm Johnston says
the injuries were recent and suspects they were inflicted around the time of
her apparent suffocation.
Earlier this month Charlene was
found unconscious in her bed and having difficulty breathing - she was admitted
to Christchurch Hospital where she died early the next day after failing to
regain consciousness.
Police say that family members
washed her bedding after being informed of the sexual assault.
Charlene and her sister, 12, were
orphaned when their parents died in Zimbabwe several years ago.
They emigrated
to Christchurch about two years ago to live with an aunt, uncle and two cousins
aged 20 and 24. All the family were home when Charlene
was found.
According to a Child, Youth and
Family spokesperson, Charlene's sister was taken into care, but the
spokesperson would not say why.