The Press
May 24 2008

Expert meets police

Jo McKenzie-McLean - Canterbury | Saturday, 24 May 2008

A South African professor whose "hearsay" comments dropped a bombshell on the murder trial of Zimbabwean George Gwaze has met police in Christchurch.

Gwaze, 56, was found not guilty on Wednesday of murdering his 10-year-old niece and adopted daughter, Charlene Makaza, in January last year.

Professor Heinz Rode arrived in New Zealand from Hong Kong on Wednesday night and spoke with police on Thursday.

The Press understands Rode was instructed not to discuss the Makaza case and was asked to sign an affidavit.

Charlene, who was HIV-positive, was found unresponsive with breathing difficulties, mucus around her mouth and suffering diarrhoea by her aunt, Sifiso Gwaze, on January 6. An examination at Christchurch Hospital revealed injuries to her anus and genitals.

During the High Court trial in Christchurch, the court was told that Professor Spencer Beasley, a Christchurch paediatric surgeon who gave evidence during the trial, later attended a conference in Hong Kong, where he discussed the case with Rode.

He had told Beasley that Charlene's symptoms were similar to those of some HIV-positive children he had examined who suddenly deteriorated. Children in Charlene's age group were reported by Rode to have suffered from brain deterioration, diarrhoea and anal tears.

Justice Chisholm allowed Rode's evidence as hearsay.

Crown Prosecutor Chris Lange said Rode's comments were evidence in a form the jury could not consider reliable.

Defence lawyer Jonathan Eaton said on the contrary, Rode's comments had "dropped a bombshell", showing similar factors between Charlene's death and those of children with HIV in South Africa.

Forensic pathologist Dr Martin Sage, who performed the post mortem, told the court he did not think Rode was describing this case.