Three News
April 29 2008; 15:59
Aunt says young niece had 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.