KOTA KINABALU – The inquest into the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir took a new turn when forensic pathologist Dr Jessie Hiu testified that it was unlikely the teenager could have fallen accidentally from her hostel’s third floor.
Dr Hiu told the Coroner’s Court on Wednesday that based on measurements taken, the concrete railing at the hostel was taller than Zara’s centre of gravity. This, she explained, would make a fall from a simple standing position highly improbable.
She detailed that the hostel railing, including the metal bar attached, measured 118 centimetres in height. Zara, who stood at 154 centimetres, had a centre of gravity located just below the navel — about 36 centimetres higher than the railing itself.
“The railing was above her centre of gravity. For someone of her height, it would not be possible to simply topple over the railing while standing normally,” Dr Hiu said during her testimony.
Her statement cast doubts on the possibility of an accidental fall, which had been among the early assumptions in the case. Instead, her expert opinion suggested that Zara would have needed to climb, lean deliberately, or be subjected to another factor for her to have gone over the railing.
The inquest, which has drawn public attention, is aimed at uncovering the circumstances behind Zara’s tragic death. Lawyers representing both the family and the institution have been closely following expert testimonies, including the forensic findings presented.
The case continues, with the court expected to hear from more witnesses and experts before the coroner delivers a ruling on the exact cause of Zara’s death.
