Court recreates Zara's fatal fall at school dorm using mannequins

 

The Coroner’s Court on Thursday took its inquest into the death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir to the scene of her fatal fall, where a dramatic reconstruction was carried out at her school dormitory in Papar.

The demonstration lasted more than two hours, with police forensics, experts, and Fire and Rescue officers roped in to recreate the plunge from the third floor of the dormitory, about 10.5m high.

Three mannequins, weighted to roughly match Zara’s 53kg frame, were used. Two were dropped to illustrate the difference between a free fall and a fall with “a slight push”. 

A third was deployed to demonstrate where her head struck the cement floor near a drain.

Zara Qairina Mahathir

The team also examined whether Zara could have fallen from a standing or sitting position, factoring in the suspended grill above the ledge.

The suspended grill measured about 122cm in height, while the dormitory wall stood at roughly 118cm. Taking into account Zara’s height of 154cm, this meant that anyone attempting to step over would have had to bend forward and climb over a metal handrail on the dormitory wall.

‘Not perfect, but useful’

Ram Singh, counsel for one of the minors accused of bullying Zara, told reporters after the locus quo that the mannequins were far from perfect but useful in demonstrating the mechanics of the fall.

Ram Singh

“Mannequins are hollow, not like flesh and bone, but they help us see how the body might land,” he said.

He also confirmed the presence of two domestic washing machines near the site, each with a capacity of 7.9kg. Such details had initially sparked speculation online about the victim being loaded into a washing machine before her fall.

However, the theory was already dismissed by pathologist Dr Jessie Hiu, who said Zara’s injuries were consistent with a fall and not from being stuffed inside.

The inquiry, now in its second week, has so far heard from six witnesses. Expert testimony maintains that Zara’s injuries point to a fall from height, not an assault. The inquest is scheduled to resume in Kota Kinabalu later this afternoon. - Mkini