Kuala lumpur: The Coroner's Court hearing the inquest into the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir saw a tense moment today when Coroner Judge Amir Shah Amir Hassan suddenly stood and left his bench after twice asking, 'Am I not fair enough?' during the questioning of consultant psychiatrist Dr Wong Haw Huo. The inquest was subsequently paused for about 50 minutes before resuming.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the exchange took place while Wong, the 75th witness in the inquest, was being questioned by lawyer Datuk Ram Singh, counsel for one of the teenagers charged in the bullying case involving Zara Qairina. The lawyer had repeatedly asked Wong to provide direct answers to his questions, including on the cause of Zara Qairina's fall and whether the teenager was alone before the incident.

Datuk Rizwandean M. Borhan, representing Zara Qairina's mother, then remarked that Ram's questioning of Wong appeared harsh. Ram responded, asking not to use the word harsh, emphasizing the importance of the questioning. Judge Amir Shah then asserted that the proceeding was an inquest, not a trial, leading to his repeated question, 'Am I not fair enough?' before leaving the bench.

After the 50-minute pause, Ram and Rizwandean both apologized to the court. Ram expressed that he had not intended to question the fairness of the proceedings, while Rizwandean also tendered an apology. Judge Amir Shah accepted the apologies but reminded counsel to remain cautious and professional. He also apologized for his actions, noting it was the first time in his 21-year career that he had walked out from the bench.

Dr Wong later informed the court that the last student to encounter Zara Qairina before the fall was crucial for assessing her mental state shortly before the incident. Wong emphasized the importance of understanding Zara Qairina's mental state to establish her understanding of the possible consequences of her actions.

Zara Qairina died at Queen Elizabeth Hospital on July 17, 2025, a day after she was found unconscious in a drain near her school hostel at about 4 am.