Pathologist Dr. Jessie Hiu from Queen Elizabeth Hospital (HQE) stated that she was unaware of any VVIP or third party attempting to influence her testimony at the Coroner’s Court.
She made the remark while responding to questions from lawyer Datuk Ram Singh, who asked whether her answers during the inquest into the death of the late Zara Qairina were based solely on her expertise and not influenced by any VVIP or external parties.
Ram asked, “Your answers were not influenced or affected by claims of VVIP or third-party involvement, and are purely based on your expertise?”
Dr. Jessie replied, “I do not know of any VVIP or third party.”
Dr. Jessie, who previously testified as the first witness in Zara Qairina’s death inquest, was recalled to continue her testimony regarding a simulation conducted at the locus in quo at the late student’s school hostel, which she also attended earlier this morning.
In another exchange, Dr. Jessie agreed with Ram’s assertion that Zara was conscious at the time of the fall in the early hours of 16 July. She also noted that it would be difficult to lift and throw someone who is unconscious while standing upright.
Ram asked, “Is it possible that she was lifted and thrown to a lower level?”
Dr. Jessie replied, “Yes, but the person lifting her would need to position her body straight to match where she landed feet-first from the ledge, which is quite far.”
Ram then asked, “Considering Zara’s height of 154 cm and weight of 53 kg, how many people would it take to lift her?”
Dr. Jessie responded, “I do not know.”
When asked whether it is difficult to lift an unconscious person to fall precisely at a certain spot, she said, “It is difficult to hold the body upright to drop it exactly where she is believed to have landed feet-first.”
Ram summarized, “So Zara was conscious and standing upright when she fell, not unconscious?”
Dr. Jessie replied, “Yes, likely.”
Ram and his co-counsel represent one of the five children facing bullying charges at the Children’s Court.
Dr. Jessie concluded her testimony this afternoon, which will be followed tomorrow by the hostel security officer’s testimony regarding the incident involving the late Zara Qairina on 16 July.
