KEY POINTS:
Police investigating the death of a 10-year-old Christchurch girl confirmed today she had suffered an "horrific" sexual attack before she was suffocated.
Zimbabwe immigrant Charlene Makaza was found in her bed having difficulty breathing on January 6 and died early the following morning without regaining consciousness.
Police launched a homicide investigation after being alerted to her injuries by hospital authorities. After two post mortem examinations, they "strongly" believe Charlene was suffocated.
Today they released more details about her death to clarify "misinformation and speculation in the community".
Detective Inspector Malcolm Johnston, heading the homicide investigation, said some people within the Zimbabwean community in Christchurch believed Charlene had died of natural causes.
Police wanted to correct that impression in the hope that it would generate co-operation from people they wished to interview.
Mr Johnston said post mortem examinations had revealed Charlene had serious injuries consistent with a violent sexual assault.
"The injuries were recent and police strongly believe they had been inflicted around the time of her apparent suffocation," he said.
A number of people police wished to speak to had the "misconception" that Charlene had died of natural causes which was making it "very difficult" to conduct the homicide investigation.
"We want to make very, very clear to those people that that is not the case and we need their co-operation.
"This is a highly suspicious death and we owe it to Charlene to get to the bottom of it," Mr Johnston said.
He also revealed that Charlene's bedding and clothes had been washed after her family had been informed by doctors that a sexual assault had taken place. An item of clothing had been discarded in rubbish, but had been retrieved by police.
Charlene lived with her adoptive aunt and uncle, her 12-year-old sister and two cousins aged 20 and 24. She and her sister emigrated from Zimbabwe about two years ago after the death of their parents some years earlier.
Child Youth and Family has taken the 12-year-old into care since Charlene's death.
Police are concentrating their inquiries on family members who were present when Charlene was found incapacitated.
Mr Johnston said a week-long scene examination at the two-storey weatherboard house in Hollyford Ave, Bryndwr, had "not been made any easier" by the fact her bedding and clothing had been washed.
But he said police did not "read anything sinister" into the fact the family had cleaned up the bedding -- "her clothes and their clothes". Charlene had soiled herself.
The child's family was co-operating with the police inquiries and individual members had been interviewed in the presence of lawyers.
The family has engaged Christchurch lawyer Susan Lewis to protect their interests.
Mr Johnston declined to elaborate on Charlene's sexual injuries, but said he doubted she'd been raped.
"She suffered an horrific injury as a result of a sexual attack," he said.
Mr Johnston reiterated that police were satisfied there was no evidence of an intruder in the house when Charlene was attacked. All members of her adoptive family were present.
"So obviously we do have to start with the family members first.
"I must stress we are keeping an open mind."
From speaking to family members, police were "no further ahead" in establishing how she received her injuries.
Mr Johnston said police had interviewed many members of the Zimbabwe community and friends of the family.
"We've got no specific suspects," he said.
Mr Johnston said police were awaiting DNA results and toxicology results from the two post mortem examinations. Toxicology results were not expected for between four to six weeks. DNA analysis could take two to four weeks.
He said he hoped the family would continue co-operating with the homicide investigation.
"We just hope we can discover and unravel this mystery, because at the moment it is an absolute mystery as to how Charlene got those injuries."
- NZPA
