1. A 19-day inquest officially began
The inquest into 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir's death commenced at the Kota Kinabalu Coroner’s Court in Sabah on Sept 3.
Sessions Court judge Amir Shah Amir Hassan presided as coroner.
A total of 66 witnesses, including 25 children are expected to testify over the course of the proceedings, which will run until Sept 30.
2. The pathologist’s critical testimony
Forensic pathologist Dr Jessie Hiu who conducted Zara’s post-mortem was the first witness.
She told the court it was unlikely that Zara fell accidentally or was pushed from the third-floor hostel railing.
The railing stood at 118cm high, while Zara’s height was 154cm, making an accidental fall from a standing position improbable, she said.
"The difference between the deceased's height and the topmost horizontal metal rail is 36cm. The height of the metal rail is more than three-quarters of the deceased's height and is likely above her centre of gravity. (In females, the centre of gravity is generally located in the pelvic region, often just below the belly button in a standing position).
"In my opinion, it is unlikely that the deceased accidentally fell or was pushed from a standing position next to the concrete railing along the corridor," Dr Hiu said while reading out her witness statement on the first day of the inquest proceedings into the death of the Form One student.
3. Possibility of climbing over the railing
Dr Hiu explained that given the design and height of the railing, Zara could have climbed onto the base, crossed the metal rails and stood on the railing before falling.
This raised the question of whether her fall was a deliberate act or involved other circumstances.
4. Injuries consistent with a major fall
The autopsy revealed:
- Head injury: A sutured laceration at the back of her head (but no skull or facial bone fractures).
- Fractures: Multiple fractures in both ankles, left forearm, lumbar vertebrae and heel bone.
- Bruising and dislocation: Notably on her limbs, consistent with a fall from height.
- Despite decomposition from earlier burial, tissues (except the brain) were sufficiently intact to document these injuries.
5. Toxicology findings: No drugs, but anti-seizure medication detected
Toxicology tests by the Chemistry Department found no traces of illicit drugs in Zara’s system. However, the lab detected Phenytoin in her kidney tissue.
Phenytoin is a common anti-seizure drug, usually prescribed for epilepsy.
It is also administered as a preventive measure in patients with severe traumatic brain injuries to reduce the risk of early seizures.
Dr Hiu confirmed this would have been part of Zara’s treatment after her fall.
6. Cause of death confirmed
Zara was found unconscious in a drain near her school dormitory in Papar on July 16 at 4am. She was admitted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in critical condition with severe brain injury.
Despite emergency interventions, she died the next day from severe traumatic brain injury with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.
"A trauma alert was activated at 4.42am and she was assessed and managed by multidisciplinary teams. She succumbed to the severe traumatic brain injury with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy on July 17 at 1.07pm," Dr Hiu said.
7. Father and other interested parties included
The coroner ruled that Zara’s father, Mahathir Mohd Hashim, 44, the Education Ministry and lawyers representing five teenagers previously charged with bullying will be parties of interest in the inquest.
This ensures access to proceedings, though the teenagers’ lawyers could not cross-examine witnesses.
Zara’s mother, Noraidah Lamat, 45, is also a recognised party.
For the record, Mahathir's lawyer Sherzali Asli told reporters that the former had been relying on second hand information including from social media to find out what happened to his daughter.
"As her biological father, he has every right to be admitted as an interested party in the inquest to find out the facts," Sherzali said.
Other lawyers representing Mahathir were Nurul Rafeeqa Afdul Mutolip and Clarice Vyonne Conrad.
Sherzali said Mahathir and his wife Noraidah were separated but not divorced.