Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) pathologist Dr. Jessie Hiu ruled out the possibility that Zara Qairina Mahathir was pushed or attacked, leading to a fall from the third floor of her dormitory, where she was found unconscious in the early hours of July 16.
On the second day of the inquest into Zara’s death at the Coroner’s Court, Dr. Hiu dismissed these scenarios based on findings from a site inspection where the teenager was discovered. Responding to questions from Deputy Chief Prosecutor II Datuk Badiuszaman Ahmad, the conducting officer, Dr. Hiu stated it was highly likely that Zara either jumped or swung herself while holding onto an iron grille above the dormitory corridor wall.
Inquest Officer: Based on your written statement in paragraph 32, can you explain why it was unlikely she fell accidentally or was pushed?
Dr. Hiu: Based on measurements taken at the site, the iron railing on the corridor wall was too high for an accidental fall. If she had been pushed, the railing would have prevented her from going over.
Inquest Officer: What is the most likely possibility?
Dr. Hiu: As demonstrated during the site inspection, she might have stood on the concrete wall and either jumped or swung herself while holding onto the hanging grille.
Inquest Officer: Can I conclude there was no attack, and the cause of death was a fall from height?
Dr. Hiu: Based on the site inspection, yes.
Inquest Officer: Can you confirm the deceased either jumped or swung herself?
Dr. Hiu: Based on her position and location on July 16, she either jumped or swung herself.
During the proceedings, Dr. Hiu presented several photographs from the site inspection and described a demonstration conducted with QEH medical officers to reconstruct how Zara might have fallen. The exercise aimed to determine whether the fall could have occurred accidentally or resulted from being pushed.
Dr. Hiu explained that the inspection, conducted on August 2 with assistance from QEH medical officers, three police personnel, and school staff, also sought to clarify how Zara fell, based on her injuries and the condition of her body when found unconscious. In court, she demonstrated how Zara likely landed feet-first before collapsing backward, ending up on her back with her face upward.
