The Press
July 18 2007

Gwaze to stand trial for death of niece

A Zimbabwean man alleged to have sexually violated and murdered his 10-year-old niece has been committed for trial after a two-day depositions hearing in Christchurch.

George Evans Gwaze, 54, is charged with murdering Charlene Makaza in January, and two counts of sexually violating her.

Yesterday, he was committed for trial by Christchurch District Court Judge John Bisphan and remanded in custody to appear in the High Court in Christchurch on September 28.

The hearing had been told Charlene was found unconscious in bed on the morning of January 6 in the Bryndwr home she shared with Gwaze, his wife and other family members.

She was found with laboured breathing and bleeding around the genital area, and was taken to hospital.

Charlene died in Christchurch Hospital early on January 7 without having regained consciousness.

DNA tests of her underwear showed positive signs for semen, allegedly from Gwaze.

Forensic pathologist Dr Martin Sage told the hearing he performed a post-mortem on Charlene.

It was found that Charlene, a recent immigrant from Zimbabwe, was HIV-positive, to his knowledge the first time it had come to the notice of New Zealand medical staff.

He found severe injuries to the genital area.

Organ damage was found consistent with hypoxic injury, and the brain showed effects of oxygen deprivation.

He concluded Charlene died as a result of multiple organ failure consistent with hypoxic injury.

Her HIV-positive condition did not explain the death. The genital injuries would not have caused death in themselves, but must have caused intense pain, and probably severe bleeding, Sage said.

It was possible she was deliberately asphyxiated, but there was no evidence of manual strangulation.

Questioned by Jonathan Eaton for the defence, Sage said there was a possibility sepsis was involved, but he was in favour of asphyxia as a cause of death because no pathogens had been found.