The Press
January 19 2007

Sexual assault on girl 'violent'
by Mike Steere

The family of dead Zimbabwean girl Charlene Makaza washed her bedding and clothing after she was the victim of a "horrific" sexual assault, police say.

Police investigating the 10-year-old's death confirmed yesterday that she suffered a violent sexual assault before she died.

"The post-mortem has revealed Charlene had serious injuries consistent with a sexual assault," inquiry head Detective Inspector Malcolm Johnston said.

"We believe that this sexual assault has taken place more or less in conjunction with the suffocation."

He declined to comment on whether there was any evidence of previous sexual assaults.

Family members in the house at the time were the focus of the police inquiry, but Johnston would not rule out an intruder, despite there being no evidence of one entering the house.

"We are keeping an open mind on that matter," he said.

Charlene was living at the Hollyford Avenue, Bryndwr, house with her aunt, uncle, two cousins and 12-year-old sister when she was taken to Christchurch Hospital on January 6. She died the next day.

Her sister has since been taken into Child, Youth and Family care.

Charlene's parents died in Zimbabwe when she was young, and she and her sister immigrated over a year ago. Her adoptive family has been in Christchurch for about three years.

Johnston said family members washed Charlene's bedding and clothing after they were made aware at Christchurch Hospital that she had been sexually assaulted.

He said the family went home and cleaned the bedding. An item of clothing was found discarded in the family's rubbish during the scene examination.

The family's actions had made the scene examination more challenging, but police were not treating it suspiciously.

"We don't read anything sinister in that," he said.

Johnston said police were now waiting for toxicology reports and DNA tests, which were probably several weeks away.

Family members were co- operating with the police, and Johnston hoped that would continue.

"This is a highly suspicious death. We owe it to Charlene to discover how she died," he said.

The family's lawyer, Susan Lewis, could not be reached for comment last night.

South Island Zimbabwean Association secretary Taz Mukorombindo said he was shocked to learn Charlene had been sexually assaulted.

"Obviously, it wouldn't have been the first thing to cross our minds. It is a shock to everyone," he said.

The police and courts had to establish what happened, and the community still sympathised with the family, he said.

Family pastor Thomas Gonera declined to comment.

The Press understands the body has been returned to the family and that a funeral will be held for Charlene tomorrow.

TIMELINE

· January 6 - Charlene Makaza is taken to Christchurch Hospital after being found in bed by her aunt and uncle at their home in Hollyford Avenue, Bryndwr, with breathing difficulties.

· January 7 - Charlene dies from her injuries. Police say she was suffocated.

· January 8 - Police rule out the possibility an intruder had entered the house.

· January 9 - Police tell family members they can reclaim Charlene's body, but it remained in the morgue until this week.

· January 12 - Susan Lewis, the lawyer for Charlene's family, says the family is “highly stressed and distressed'' by what is happening.

· January 12-15 - Allegations emerge that Charlene was sexually assaulted before she died.

· Yesterday - Police confirm Charlene was sexually assaulted before she died.