The Press
May 14 2008
Girl died of lack of oxygen, jury told
by Dean Calcott
Charlene
Makaza died of organ failure through lack of oxygen, a paediatrician
has told a jury.
Dr Maud Meates-Dennis told the High Court in Christchurch yesterday
that Charlene, 10, died on January 7 last year because her brain and other
vital organs had sustained severe damage due to lack of oxygen.
Her adoptive
father, George Evans Gwaze, 56, is on trial for her alleged murder and sexual
violation. Charlene died after being taken unconscious to hospital the day
before.
The Crown
says Charlene died after a brutal sexual assault. DNA from sperm found in her
underwear came from Gwaze.
The defence
says Charlene, a sickly child, died of an overwhelming infection and the DNA
came from cross-contamination after jumbling of clothing in a washing machine.
Meates-Dennis said the lack of oxygen could have been
caused by a severe lung condition such as pneumonia, and from septic shock, but
blocking of the airway was the most likely cause in this case.
Questioned
by Chris Lange for the prosecution, Meates-Dennis
said she had much experience of African children, having worked in Ethiopia and
for more than 10 years in London, where at least half the patients she dealt
with were of African origin.
At
Christchurch Hospital, Charlene was found to be HIV-positive. This did not
contribute directly to her death.
Questioned
by Jonathan Eaton for the defence, Meates-Dennis said
she did not think septic shock, the initial working diagnosis, was the cause of
Charlene's death. It did not give an adequate explanation of why brain damage
occurred so early in her care. Suffocation was the only mechanism that
explained all the clinical features Charlene had, Meates-Dennis
said.
If doctors
had known Charlene was HIV-positive she would have been sent to Christchurch
Hospital's paediatrics department, where she would
have been monitored every three months and treated as needed.
It was
surprising she had not been taken to the department. Most children with
recurrent health problems were referred, Meates-Dennis
said.
This week,
Environmental Science and Research scientist Susan Vintiner
told the court it was unlikely sperm found in Charlene's underwear was
transferred in the washing machine.