Sunday News
February 4 2007

Uncle charged with sexual violation, murder
by Joseph Lose

The uncle of dead Zimbabwe girl Charlene Makaza appeared in court yesterday charged with sexually violating and murdering his 10-year-old niece.

George Gwaze's eyes remained down and he showed no emotion as he entered the dock at the Christchurch District Court.

About 12 members of the Zimbabwean community - including Gwaze's wife Sifiso , Charlene's aunty - were in court.

Gwaze did not plead to charges that he murdered Charlene in Christchurch between January 5 and 7.

Gwaze, a short, stocky man with curly black hair, also faces two charges of sexually violating Charlene on or about January 6.

Duty solicitor John O'Connell applied for interim name suppression so Gwaze could inform his family and allow him to fully brief a lawyer before his next court appearance.

But justices of the peace Nick Atkins and Stan Beavon said because Gwaze's name had already appeared in Saturday morning's Christchurch Press newspaper, the name suppression application was pointless.

Police prosecutor Dave Joker opposed suppression, saying the police homicide investigation had gained a high public profile and Gwaze's name should be made available to the public.

Gwaze was remanded in custody until Wednesday.

His wife Sifiso did not want to comment.

Charlene died early on January 7.

She had been found in bed, unconscious and struggling to breathe the day before.

She did not regain consciousness.

Police launched a homicide investigation after being alerted by hospital authorities.

A post mortem showed Charlene appeared to have been suffocated.

A week-long scene examination at the two-storey weatherboard house where Charlene lived with her aunt, uncle, her 12-year-old sister and two adult cousins, produced no evidence of an intruder.

All members of the family were present in the Hollyford Ave, Bryndwr, house when Charlene was found incapacitated.

Police later revealed she had suffered horrific injuries from a violent sexual attack about the time she was suffocated.

Charlene's sister was taken into care by Child Youth and Family after police began the homicide investigation.

The pair had emigrated from Zimbabwe about two years ago after the deaths of their parents some years earlier.

Members of the Christchurch Zimbabwean community, school friends and family farewelled Charlene in a funeral service at the Hornby Community Centre on January 20 - 13 days after her violent death.