The Press
May 6 2008

Charlene near death on arrival at Chch hospital
by Dean Calcott

Charlene Makaza was near death when she arrived at Christchurch Hospital, a jury has been told.

Emergency medicine registrar Dr Shuh Fen Moy told the High Court in Christchurch yesterday that when the 10-year-old girl was brought in, the initial diagnosis was an overwhelming infection.

Charlene was "in extremis", or near death.

The focus was on maintaining her life, looking after breathing and circulation, Moy said.

George Evans Gwaze, 56, faces a charge of murdering Charlene, his adopted daughter, and two charges of sexually violating her.

The court heard yesterday from medical staff who dealt with Charlene at Christchurch Hospital on January 6 last year, after she was referred from a 24-hour medical centre where she had been taken by family members.

Hospital staff told the court Charlene was so ill that their efforts focused on stabilising her condition, which in the end never occurred. She was transferred to intensive care, where she died early on January 7.

Emergency department doctor Susannah Gowers said Charlene was unresponsive and floppy, breathing quickly and with poor circulation.

Obstetric nurse Susan Wortelboer, who works in the hospital's children's acute assessment unit, said she was called in as part of the team dealing with Charlene and noticed an unusual abrasion to Charlene's genitalia.

Questioned by defence counsel Jonathan Eaton, Wortelboer agreed she did not see any blood, or sign of diarrhoea, or anything on the sheets. She did not notice any other injuries.

The court will hear from more medical staff today