Kota kinabalu: The Coroner's Court here today heard that Zara Qairina Mahathir shed tears twice when her name was called while she was being taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital. English teacher Nor Asima Zaiton, 49, of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama (SMKA) Tun Datu Mustapha, said she rushed to the hostel after receiving a call from Head Warden Azhari Abd Sagap on the day Zara Qairina was found unconscious.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Nor Asima, who did not know Zara Qairina personally as she did not teach her class, accompanied her to the hospital. During the journey, Nor Asima helped the paramedics bandage Zara Qairina's left hand, and when her name was called, tears were observed running down the young girl's cheeks. Nor Asima noted that Zara Qairina's leg was still bleeding in the ambulance. Upon arriving at the hospital, Nor Asima contacted Zara Qairina's mother to inform her of their arrival and stayed at the hospital until 1 pm.

The 55th witness was testifying when questioned by Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Fairuz Johari, who is also the conducting officer, during the inquest into Zara Qairina's death before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan. Nor Asima also stated that she handed over the clothes Zara Qairina had been wearing to her mother's cousin while at the hospital.

Zara Qairina, 13, was confirmed dead at Queen Elizabeth Hospital on July 17, a day after she was found unconscious in a drain near her school dormitory. The inquest proceedings continue tomorrow.