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NZ Herald
January 22 2007; 05:00

Police briefed on African sex beliefs
NZPA

Christchurch police investigating the death of a Zimbabwean girl have been briefed on African sex beliefs and practices.

Zimbabwean immigrant Charlene Makaza, 10, died in the early hours of January 7 after being found in her bed unconscious and struggling to breathe the day before. She did not regain consciousness.

Christchurch Hospital authorities alerted police who began a homicide investigation.

Police revealed this week that Charlene had horrific injuries after being subjected to a violent sexual attack about the time she was suffocated.

On Saturday Charlene was buried in Christchurch by her family and about 150 mourners, including many from the Zimbabwean community and young school friends.

Charlene's small white coffin, adorned with a bouquet of flowers, was carried out of the service by her four cousins. Ahead was her sister, clutching a photograph of Charlene and a white teddy bear.

Yesterday's Sunday Star-Times reports police investigating the death had been briefed about African beliefs and practises surrounding sex, including the myth that sex with a virgin could cure Aids and about Zimbabwe's appalling child sex abuse statistics.

Charlene emigrated to New Zealand with her 12-year-old sister about two years ago to join her adoptive parents, an aunt and uncle, after the death of their parents in Zimbabwe some years earlier.

Charlene and her sister lived in a two-storey weatherboard house in Hollyford Ave, Bryndwr, with the aunt, uncle and two cousins aged 20 and 24. All family members were in the house when Charlene was found incapacitated.

Child Youth and Family has taken Charlene's sister into care since the homicide investigation began.

Post mortem examinations had revealed the 10-year-old had serious injuries consistent with a sexual attack and appeared to have been suffocated about the same time.