Kota kinabalu: The Coroner's Court here has set Oct 23 as the final date for the inquest hearing into the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir, after noting that the proceedings had already gone on for 74 days. Coroner Judge Amir Shah Amir Hassan emphasized the importance of tracking the progress of the inquest, considering that July marks the first anniversary of Zara Qairina's death, while September signifies one year since the inquest began. The coroner stated that the court would adhere to the existing schedule until October, ensuring the inquest does not extend unnecessarily.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the court expressed disappointment when informed that no witnesses were available for today's proceedings due to a misunderstanding regarding the scheduled testimony. Counsel Shahlan Jufri, representing Zara Qairina's mother, clarified that the expectation was for today's proceedings to continue with testimony from Zara Qairina's step-sister, while the first expert witness for the month would be available tomorrow. The court may still call several expert witnesses, including handwriting expert Dr. Linthini Gannetion, child psychologist Dr. Aishah Rosli, psychiatrist Dr. Simon Wong, and potentially a pathologist.
Conducting Officer Mohd Fairus Johari, also a deputy public prosecutor, informed the court that the team had prepared over 200 additional questions for the handwriting expert. Meanwhile, counsel Datuk Ram Singh, representing a teenager involved in the Zara Qairina bullying case, argued for both Zara Qairina's mother and step-sister to testify for the inquest's benefit. The coroner stated that calling the step-sister was unnecessary unless Zara Qairina's mother testified, as the evidence focused on the mother.
Shahlan contended that if the step-sister were allowed to testify, her evidence should precede that of Zara Qairina's parents. Mohd Fairus mentioned that the Attorney-General instructed for the step-sister to be called, highlighting the prosecution's desire to have the matter recorded for potential appellate proceedings. Consequently, the coroner directed the preparation and distribution of the step-sister's witness statement this week, with a decision on her testimony to be made in the next court session. The inquest will resume tomorrow.
Zara Qairina, aged 13, passed away on July 17, 2025, at Queen Elizabeth Hospital after being admitted on July 16. She was found unconscious near a drain at her school hostel in Papar at 4 am. The Attorney General's Chambers ordered the exhumation of her remains for a post-mortem on Aug 8, followed by the announcement of a formal inquest into her death on Aug 13.