Radio NZ
April 28 2008; 11:18

Crown opens case of man accused of murdering ten year old niece

The crown has just opened its case against a Christchurch man accused of murdering his ten year old niece.

56 year old George Evans Gwaze (pron gwaz-ay) is charged with killing Charlene Nyesha Makaza who died in hospital in January last year.

The Zimbabwean man also faces two counts of sexually violating his niece.

A jury of seven men and five women have been selected to hear the case in the High Court in Christchurch.

The trial is set down for three weeks and will hear evidence from more than 60 witnesses