Stuff
April 29 2008

Aunt tells of finding girl having trouble breathing
NZPA

Charlene Makaza's aunt Sifiso Gwaze has told of finding her in bed having difficulty breathing the morning after the Crown alleges a sexual attack occurred.

Mrs Gwaze, whose family had cared for the Zimbabwean-born child since her parents died, was giving evidence on the second day of the trial of her husband, George Evans Gwaze, on charges of sexually violating and murdering Charlene in January 2007, the Christchurch court news website reported. Gwaze denies all charges.

The trial is before Justice Lester Chisholm and a jury at the High Court in Christchurch.

The Crown says 10-year-old Charlene was asphyxiated during a sexual assault, but the defence says her sudden collapse and injuries were the result of an infection that overwhelmed her.

Tests at Christchurch Hospital showed she was HIV-positive.

Mrs Gwaze told the court Charlene had been a child who was well, apart from ear infections.

She told of finding the girl in bed, the morning after the alleged sex attack, having difficulty breathing and making groaning or grunting noises.

The family quickly took her to the 24-hour surgery in Bealey Ave and she was transferred from there to Christchurch Hospital where a serious anal injury was noticed later in the day and the police were advised.

Charlene died at 1am the next day.

Cross-examined by defence counsel James Rapley, Mrs Gwaze acknowledged details from the court papers when she sought custody of Charlene in Harare in 1999.

Charlene's mother had died and her father was unwell. Charlene was described in the papers as being chronically and possibly terminally ill, and in need of specialist medical care.

She said Charlene went through a period of having coughs and headaches, and was on an anti-biotic which boosted her immune system. She needed medical treatment more often than her own children had.

The trial is expected to last three weeks.