Radio NZ
May 20 2008

Closing Address

The lawyer acting for George Gwaze, the Christchurch man accused of murdering his 10 year old niece, has told the jury the case was nothing more than an utter tragedy.

The jury will tomorrow begin its deliberations in the murder and sexual violation trial which has been running for the past three weeks.

The Crown says Charlene Makaza was suffocated by Mr Gwaze as he tried to prevent her calling out while he sexually violated her.

But defence lawyer Jonathon Eaton closed his case today by telling the jury there was no positive evidence of sexual abuse, and that Charlene was HIV positive, extremely unhealthy, and had tragically died of natural causes.

He said Mr Gwaze could not, would not and did not harm the girl he adopted as his own daughter, and suggested the jury would find reasonable doubt about everything the Crown alleged.