The Press
January 20 2007

Quest to find how happy girl died
by Mike Steere

A 10-year-old girl was admitted to Christchurch Hospital with breathing difficulties that would later kill her. Two weeks later police say she was suffocated and the victim of a horrific sexual assault. There are no specific suspects in the police case. MIKE STEERE looks at the tragic end to, and aftermath of, Charlene Makaza's life.

January is a time when a 10-year-old girl should be playing in the yard at home, swimming at the beach or basking in the sun with friends.

For Zimbabwean girl Charlene Makaza, the hopes of such fun went horribly wrong when the keen netballer and choir singer had her life cut short in horrific circumstances two weeks ago.

What exactly happened on her last day is still a mystery, but Christchurch police say she died of suffocation, which probably occurred in conjunction with a violent sexual assault.

In the bed where Charlene incurred her "horrific injuries" on Saturday, January 6, she soiled herself, possibly as a result of the trauma or the asphyxiation.

Charlene's aunt and uncle found her in bed with breathing difficulties, and after they rushed her to the 24-hour surgery, she was admitted to Christchurch Hospital.

She spent her last few hours unconscious, battling for her life in hospital -- a battle she would eventually lose early on the Sunday.

It was an undignified and traumatic ending for Charlene.

After being notified of the injuries by hospital authorities, police were quick to start a homicide inquiry.

Charlene was no stranger to tragedy.

Both her parents died in Zimbabwe and she and her 12-year-old sister immigrated to New Zealand over a year ago.

After settling into a two- storey, weatherboard home in Bryndwr with her aunt, uncle, sister and two cousins, aged 20 and 24, it seemed life for Charlene was pretty good.

She had started a new life at Wairakei School, where staff and pupils say Charlene was well-liked.

School principal Lee McArthur said Charlene was a happy young girl who helped others.

"Charlene was a friendly, kind and helpful pupil. She found it cold here, but had adjusted.

" She was happy at school, she had friends at school and was really well-liked by everybody," McArthur said.

"She was a good person with a great big smile, and we will all miss her."

Charlene charmed her peers, despite being hassled at times for her difference.

"People at school gave her a hard time because she was black and came from another country and just because her voice was so low," friend and neighbour Karanimata Swete said.

Karanimata said she liked walking to school with Charlene and playing on the monkey bars with her. Charlene was energetic and "not boring like other people".

So how could such a sweet young girl who embraced change and enjoyed going to church and meeting new friends come to such an awful end?

Police seem to be having trouble finding answers.

Inquiry head Detective Inspector Malcolm Johnston said this week that despite good progress in gathering information and co-operation from Charlene's family, there were no specific suspects.

"We are keeping an open mind in this inquiry. However, we are obviously focusing on family members in the house at the time to ascertain how Charlene could have sustained the injuries she had," he said.

"So far we have found no evidence that an intruder has entered the address."

The police inquiry has included a scene investigation at the Hollyford Avenue house, interviews with more than 25 people, a post-mortem and initial reports from the pathologist.

This week Johnston revealed Charlene had been violently sexually assaulted to quell speculation her death may have been from natural causes.

He said police needed to interview some people who believed the death was from natural causes, and their misconceptions were making the investigation "very difficult".

"We want to make it very, very clear to those people that that is not the case and we need their co-operation," he said.

Johnston also revealed that family members had washed Charlene's bedding and clothing, and one item of clothing had been discarded after they were made aware she had been sexually assaulted. He was not treating that move as sinister.

He said police were now waiting on toxicology reports from the pathologist and results of DNA tests from Environmental and Science Research, which he was "certainly interested in".

Both results are expected to be several weeks away.

Charlene's family is understood to have co-operated with police throughout the inquiry.

While Charlene's sister was moved into Child, Youth and Family care and the family returned to its Bryndwr home, it made no comment.

All family members were at home when Charlene suffered her injuries, but there was no immediate public denial of involvement and no pleas to help find Charlene's killer.

Their silence left members of the Zimbabwean community confused, with some believing Charlene died of natural causes -- only to be shocked when the true nature of her death was revealed.

Police will not comment on whether there was any history of sexual abuse.

The family's lawyer, Susan Lewis, has also been reluctant to comment, except to report the family was "highly stressed and distressed".

Today could be the most stressful day yet for family members as they say goodbye at the funeral of the 10-year-old.

As the family farewells Charlene, the investigation will continue.

"This is a highly suspicious death.

"We owe it to Charlene to discover how she died," Johnston said.

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CAPTION:

Sifting for clues: members of a police forensic team inspect the exterior of the house where Charlene Makaza was assaulted. Photos: Kirk Hargreaves. Making progress: Detective Inspector Malcolm Johnston talks to reporters outside the house in Hollyford Avenue, in Bryndwr, Christchurch, where Charlene Makaza died. Friendly, kind: Charlene Makaza was leading a happy life after arriving from Zimbabwe. Tribute: flowers on a tree outside her home mark Charlene Makaza's death. Photo: Dean Kozanic