Inquest into Zara Qairina's death set for one week each month

 

The inquest into the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir is expected to be held for only one week each month. NSTP file pic

KOTA KINABALU: The inquest into the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir is expected to be held for only one week each month.

Lawyer Shahlan Jufri said that next week's proceedings would take place on Monday, Tuesday and Friday, rather than all five weekdays.

"In February, there will only be one week of proceedings from Feb 2 to Feb 6. By right, the inquest is supposed to continue until Feb 13. For the following months — March and April — it will also be one week each month until the inquest is completed," he told the media after the 55th day of the inquest concluded with testimony from two child witnesses.

Shahlan, who represents Zara's mother, said his team had requested that coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan arrange a visit to SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha, where Zara was found unconscious on the ground floor of the school dormitory.

However, he added that a date for the revisit had yet to be fixed as it needed to be discussed with other parties.

The Coroner's Court, which included expert witnesses such as pathologist Dr Jessie Hiu and crime investigation officer Inspector Maidon Bernadus, previously visited the scene on Sept 11.

The inquest, which began on Sept 3 last year following Zara's death on July 17, has called 58 witnesses to date. It was previously reported that more than 60 witnesses are on the list. Lawyers have stated that additional witnesses may be called following further developments from existing testimony.

The proceedings took a month-long break last month to accommodate a court trial involving five students accused of bullying Zara, year-end holidays, and the opening of the 2026 Legal Year. - NST