KOTA KINABALU – For eight hours in the autopsy room, lawyer Shahlan Jufri witnessed the meticulous work of a forensic expert team in their quest to uncover the truth behind the death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir at Queen Elizabeth I Hospital (HQEI) here on Sunday.
He was one of the lawyers representing 45-year-old Noraidah Lamat, the deceased’s mother and was the only family representative present to observe the procedure conducted by four forensic pathologists.
Recounting his first experience in an autopsy room to fulfill the family’s request, Shahlan admitted that everything remained vivid in his memory.
“This is indeed my first time being in an autopsy room; usually, I only see pictures. If I wanted to explain the post-mortem process step by step, I could do so right now because it’s still fresh (in my mind). The doctor even mentioned earlier that he was surprised because, until now, I’m the only lawyer who could endure being inside (the autopsy room).
“I still remember the condition of the deceased, what kind of knives were used, what kind of bowls were used, everything. At first, I was nervous; then I felt pity, because having to exhume and conduct a post-mortem is not easy and thirdly, I felt humbled,” he told reporters upon leaving the autopsy room.
Even though he was there for hours, he only stepped out twice briefly to get fresh air in the viewing room.
“No (I didn’t go to the toilet). I went to the viewing room twice to get fresh air, but after less than five minutes each time, the doctor called me back in. So I went back into the autopsy room, put on my face mask and continued.
“The second time I stepped out for fresh air, again, less than five minutes later, I was called back. In the end, I said I might as well stay inside, I couldn’t be outside, not even in the viewing room,” he said.
He added that from 11am to 7pm, he did not consume any food or drink, just like the forensic team, who worked continuously without rest.
“The whole time, no food, no drink. That’s why I said earlier that I’m very grateful to the forensic team, because they not only refrained from eating or drinking but didn’t even sit down.
“I could sit, they couldn’t at all... they were constantly moving, looking for both old and new injuries, if any,” he said.
Shahlan explained that he endured staying in the room from start to finish to fulfil the family’s wishes.
“I stayed, never left. I was there the whole time. The smell, the work they did, I witnessed it all. The reason is simple: that’s what the family wanted and that’s why I stayed. Whatever the circumstances, I endured it.
Throughout the process, he added, there were also briefings and Q&A sessions with the legal team.
“There was a Q&A session, there were explanations and everything was there,” he said.