Jury retires in Gwaze trial

The jury in the George Gwaze murder trial has asked two questions.

The group retired just after 11 o’clock to consider whether or not Gwaze is guilty of the sexual violation and murder of his ten-year-old adoptive daughter Charlene Makaza.

Since then, they've come back with two questions – one asking about the difference between violation and assault, and the other on when the offending is alleged to have occurred.

Justice French instructed them to stick with the wording on the charges, which is sexual violation not assault.

She also told them both the Crown and Defence cases are based on the crime occurring on the evening of January the 5^th or

early the next morning.

Justice French finished her summing up of the case of the 60-year-old, who is charged with the rape and murder of Charlene Makaza in January 2007, this morning.

She told the jury the Crown's case relies upon what or who caused Charlene's injuries and death.

"The focus of the Crown's closing address was the ano-genital injuries - what were they, what caused them. The ano-genital injuries are critical to the Crown case."

Justice French also summed the Defence argument for the jury.

"The Crown's scenario was so bizarre, illogical and inexplicable that there has to be another explanation and that there is one, namely HIV."

Photo: Charlene Makaza (supplied)