The inquest into Zara Qairina’s death will hear from a psychiatrist and a pathologist in April, as proceedings continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the 13-year-old’s passing.

KOTA KINABALU: The inquest into the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir will hear testimony from two more expert witnesses in sessions scheduled for April.

Lawyer Shahlan Jufri, representing the girl’s mother, confirmed that psychiatrist Dr Chua Sze Huang from Hospital Mesra Bukit Padang is set to testify this Thursday.

Dr Chua is expected to present findings from an 84-page psychiatric report on Zara Qairina’s condition prior to the incident on July 16 last year.

Shahlan explained that the report, which they received on March 5, was prepared after the specialist interviewed the girl’s parents and several other individuals.

The legal team has requested time to question the doctor in detail after Thursday, as they need to thoroughly examine the extensive report.

Another key witness, pathologist Datuk Seri Dr Phupinder Singh, is also scheduled to testify in the upcoming inquest session.

This week’s proceedings will continue until Thursday before resuming from April 13 to 17.

Zara Qairina, aged 13, died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on July 17, 2025, a day after she was found unconscious in a drain near her school dormitory in Papar.

The Attorney General’s Chambers ordered the inquest on August 13, 2025, after reviewing the police investigation report.

A prior order to exhume the girl’s body for a post-mortem was issued by the AGC on August 8, 2025.

inquest, court, testimony, witnesses, proceedings

 The Sun Malaysia