The Coroner’s Court today conducted a “locus in quo” inspection at SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha, where teenager Zara Qairina Mahathir was last seen before her fatal fall.
This marked the sixth day of proceedings, led by Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan, accompanied by prosecutors and lawyers representing the victim’s family.
Forensic officers arrived at 7:30am to prepare the site. At 8:30am, the coroner and parties departed from the Kota Kinabalu court and arrived at the school around 9am.
Six witnesses have testified so far, including Zara’s mother, her schoolmates, and the pathologist who performed the post-mortem. Evidence presented included a police simulation using a modified hospital mannequin, which found Zara’s injuries were most consistent with a vertical fall rather than being pushed.
Forensic experts told the court Zara would have had to either jump or swing from the railing, not simply slip by accident.
The on-site inspection is expected to help assess the height of the railings, the corridor layout, and the plausibility of the testimonies. More witnesses, including investigators and school staff, are expected to testify before the coroner issues a ruling on Zara’s cause of death.
