Forensic pathologist Dr. Jessie Hiu has stated that the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir was unlikely to have been caused by an accidental fall or by being pushed from a standing position at the scene.
Dr. Hiu, called to provide a professional opinion on the victim’s antemortem injuries on August 2, reviewed her medical records, including radiographs, CT and CTA scans, and conducted an on-site examination.
“Based on my assessment at the dormitory, the topmost horizontal metal rail attached to the concrete wall on the third floor measured 118 centimeters from the floor,” Dr. Hiu explained. She added that Zara’s height before death was 154 centimeters, making the rail approximately 36 centimeters below her height. The rail stood at more than three-quarters of Zara’s height and likely above her center of gravity.
Dr. Hiu further clarified that, for women, the center of gravity is usually located in the pelvic region, below the waist while standing. Considering the measurements of the concrete wall, rail height, and Zara’s height, it was plausible for her to have climbed the concrete wall, crossed the rail, and stood on the wall.
Dr. Hiu has served as a forensic pathologist at Queen Elizabeth Hospital since 1998, handling 100 to 150 autopsies annually. She has also provided expert testimony in Magistrate, Sessions, and High Courts across Sabah and Labuan, averaging 10 to 15 cases per year.
