Stepsister to testify as Zara Qairina inquest resumes

 

(FILE): The late Zara Qairina Mahathir’s stepsister is among the witnesses expected to testify when the inquest resumes tomorrow. — FILE PIC

KOTA KINABALU: The late Zara Qairina Mahathir's stepsister is among the witnesses expected to testify when the inquest resumes tomorrow.

Lawyer Shahlan Jufri, who represents Zara Qairina's mother, Noraidah Lamat, said the girl is now an adult.

On Tuesday, handwriting expert Dr Linthini Gannetion is expected to testify before coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan.

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In the following days, the proceedings are expected to hear testimony from child psychologist Dr Aishah Rosli and psychiatrist Dr Simon Wong.

The inquest entered its 72nd day during the last proceedings last month, with Zara Qairina's maternal uncle, Abu Bakar, his wife Nur Shira Abdullah, and her cousin testifying.

Consultant forensic psychiatrist Dr Chua Sze Hung and Assistant Superintendent of Police Mohd Zaidi Abu Hassan were also recalled last month.

Assistant medical officer Mohd Faiszal Md Saimi, who was the first responder to examine the then 13-year-old after she was found unconscious on the ground floor of the SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha hostel on July 16 last year, was among the witnesses who testified.

Since the inquest began on Sep 3 last year, more than 70 witnesses have been called as of press time.

In previous proceedings, the Coroner's Court was also told that Zara Qairina's parents are expected to testify.

Zara was found unconscious on the ground floor of the SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha hostel on July 16 and was pronounced dead the following day at Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

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