Radio NZ
July 16 2007; 16:21

Doctor gives evidence

The head of intensive care at Christchurch Hospital has given evidence that a girl's fatal suffocation may have been caused by an attacker trying to keep her quiet.

The evidence was presented at a depositions hearing for George Evan Gwaze (gwa-zay) who is accused of the sexual violation and murder of his 10-year-old neice, Charlene Makaza.

Dr George Downward told the court that senior doctors concluded that the severity and nature of Charlene's injuries meant her attacker would have needed to have kept her quiet.

The hearing ends tomorrow.