The inquest proceedings into the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir continued at the Coroner’s Court here today, with a doctor from the Forensic Medicine Department of Queen Elizabeth Hospital (HQE) expected to testify.
One of the lawyers representing Zara Qairina’s family, Shahlan Jufri, said that if time permits, the head warden of the hostel may also be called to testify after the doctor’s evidence.
“If the questioning of the head warden can be completed this week, there is a strong possibility that the child witnesses will begin giving evidence immediately afterwards. However, if it cannot be completed, the children are expected to testify next week,” he told the New Straits Times.
Today marks the eighth day of the inquest into the death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina. So far, six witnesses have testified before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan.
These witnesses include HQE pathologist Dr Jessie Hiu, who conducted the post-mortem; document examiner Nurul Atiqah Mohd Noh from the Chemistry Department; and HQE emergency and trauma department medical officer Dr Janefer Voo.
Also called were HQE neurosurgery department medical officer Dr Pavankumar Balachandran; Criminal Investigation Division officer from the Sabah Police Headquarters Inspector Maidon Bernadus; and the security guard who was on duty when Zara Qairina was found unconscious under her school hostel building.
The Coroner’s Court has not issued a formal gag order but reminded all parties, including the media, of their responsibilities under Section 15 of the Child Act 2001.
Accordingly, five teenagers charged in the Juvenile Court are only identified by the letters A, B, C, D and E during proceedings. The names of other children mentioned in court are also withheld by the media to protect their identities.
The inquest, which began on 3 September, is scheduled to continue on specified dates until 30 September.
