No positive ID for 3 teeth said to belong to Anna Jenkins

 

The inquest was led by Penang prosecution director Khairul Anuar Abdul Halim, and DPPs Farah Aimy Zainul Anwar, Yazid Mustaqim Roslan (second from left) and Shahrezal Shukri (second from right).

GEORGE TOWN: Investigations into the disappearance of Anna Jenkins were hampered by the inability of the authorities to positively identify three teeth found at a construction site on the fringes of the Turf Club here as belonging to her.

This was despite earlier testimony that bones found at the same site were identified as hers.

Penang Hospital dental specialist Dr Noraliza Mohd Nor told the hearing that tooth identification is normally made by way of comparison with a healthy tooth of a victim.

However, in the present case no healthy tooth was available for a comparison to be made, she said.

-ADVERTISEMENT-

Ads by 

Noraliza also said that Anna’s dental records, kept by her regular dentist over a 16-year period, were not helpful in the identification exercise.

The Australian High Commission’s Vincent Nguyen was present, seen here with lawyers, S Raveentharan and Nur Adilla Zaharuddin, who represent the deceased’s family. Looking on is her son, Greg Jenkins (left).

She identified the three teeth produced in evidence as an upper right tooth, a lower right central incisor, and a lower left lateral incisor, all of which were “filled” and “attrited” (worn down).

She testified that normally, filled or treated teeth would be easy to identify, as each filled tooth was unique. However, in the present case, she said the details extracted from Anna’s dental records were not helpful.

According to Noraliza, only one of the three teeth could “vaguely” be linked to Anna, although it could not be conclusively identified as hers.

“Insufficient data makes it impossible for me to determine if the three teeth are indeed hers,” she told the inquest.

Penang Hospital dental specialist Dr Noraliza Mohd Nor leaving the courtroom this afternoon.

Noraliza said she was also unable to determine the age of the person to whom the three teeth belonged.

“Ideally, we need a healthy tooth to make a comparison to determine age,” she said in reply to a question from deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Farah Aimy Zainul Anwar.

Responding to a question from S Raveentharan, lawyer for the Jenkins family, Noraliza said factors such as finding a tooth in the ground and its exposure to environmental elements do not necessarily affect the identification process adversely.

Teeth have great resistance to environmental effects, she said, citing the successful identification of persons who went missing during World War II via the process.

At the conclusion of the day’s proceedings, Penang prosecution director Khairul Anuar Abdul Halim told the court that the inquest intended to call another five witnesses – a radiologist, a geologist, two chemists and a police investigator – before closing its case.

A site visit will also be held, he said.

Coroner Norsalha Hamzah then set Jan 17-20, 2023 for the continued hearing of the inquest.

Anna, 65, took an Uber ride to see her mother at a nursing home at Batu Lanchang Lane on Dec 13, 2017. She stopped midway and alighted at an ashram on Scotland Road and was not seen thereafter. - FMT