The Press
May 1 2008

'Sister' slept as child was allegedly abused
by Dean Calcott

A relative who shared a bedroom where a young girl allegedly suffered a violent sexual attack slept through the night until she woke at 6am, a court has been told.

In the High Court in Christchurch, George Evans Gwaze, 56, denies a charge of murdering his adopted daughter, Charlene Makaza, 10, and two of sexually violating her.

Charlene died in the early hours of January 7 last year in Christchurch Hospital. Police were called in after medical staff discovered genital injuries.

Gwaze's daughter, Nothando Gwaze, 21, who shared a bedroom with Charlene, told the court yesterday that Charlene was her "baby sister".

Her father had treated Charlene and her sister Charmaine -- adopted after their parents in Zimbabwe died -- the same as his own children, and did not distinguish between them. "They had become the babies in the family," she said.

She said her father was never violent and did not get angry.

Nothando Gwaze told the court that on the night of January 5 last year she had arrived home with Charlene about 10.30pm after an evening of church activities. Charlene had gone straight to bed.

"Charlene seemed quiet, she was very quiet that night. I just thought it's quite late and she's tired."

Charlene had gone to bed wearing her street clothes, something she did on occasion.

After eating, Nothando Gwaze said she also went to bed, and spoke to Charlene, asking if anything was wrong. The child made a sound in a low voice.

She recalled her mother had come to the door and turned the light on, and asked Charlene if she had anything to eat, and she said yes.

Nothando Gwaze also recalled praying for Charlene, then went to sleep. She did not get up during the night, and did not wake up.

Just before 6am on January 6 she heard her mother come in, calling out to Charlene, who was unresponsive. "My father rushed into our bedroom and they were just trying to see what's wrong with her."

Nothando Gwaze said she recalled hearing a rattling sound coming from Charlene's chest. After her mother pulled the blankets aside, they could see she had suffered an attack of diarrhoea.

They called a relative by phone, seeking the best place for Charlene to be taken to, and there was discussion about taking her to the 24-hour surgery in Bealey Avenue.

Charlene was carried out to the car and her parents accompanied her to the surgery, from where she was taken to hospital.

Nothando Gwaze went to work and arrived home about 1pm to find her parents cleaning up the house and sorting out soiled bedlinen and clothing.

They then learned there was a possibility Charlene could be transferred to Auckland and she went back to the hospital with her parents, where Charlene was by now under intensive care, Nothando Gwaze said.