The Timaru Herald
May 7 2008

Horrific wound described

A nurse treating critically ill Charlene Makaza found "a wound you would never forget".

Nicola Ferguson told the High Court in Christchurch yesterday she was called in to the intensive care unit on January 6 last year because the hospital was short- staffed. It was obvious that 10-year- old Charlene was in a critical condition.

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

Nurses had been unable to get a temperature reading in the usual manner, via the ear, so it was decided to take a rectal reading.

Ferguson then noticed blood on her glove, and found Charlene had an open wound, about 4cm to 5cm in diameter.

Asked to describe the injury further, she said it was "a wound you would never forget".

The trial continues today.