The Kota Kinabalu coroner’s court today allowed lawyers representing the five teenagers accused of bullying Zara Qairina Mahathir to be admitted as parties of interest in the inquest into the Form 1 student’s death.
Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan said the move was to protect the interests of all parties involved, Utusan Malaysia reported.
“After reading and hearing the arguments from all sides, I find that the claims concerning the five juveniles are merely speculative. The interests of all parties deserve to be protected.
“The conditions imposed on the lawyers for the parents will also apply to the lawyers of the five teenagers,” he was quoted as saying.
As parties of interest, the teens’ lawyers may pose questions during proceedings, although not in cross-examination form, and will receive related documents, including witness statements.
The court earlier granted Zara’s parents, Noraidah Lamat and Mahathir Hashim @ Marikin, the right to participate in the inquest as no objections were raised by other parties.
The Sabah Law Society was allowed to attend as observers and amicus curiae (friends of the court).
Lawyer Rizwandean M Borhan, representing Zara’s mother, had objected to the application by the teenagers’ defence counsel, calling their inclusion premature and unrelated to the inquest’s purpose of determining the cause of death.
However, defence lawyers Ram Singh, Joan Goh and Azhier Farhan Arisin argued that their participation was necessary to safeguard their clients.
“If we are only allowed to be observers and must apply each time we want to object to a question posed to our clients, it will be troublesome and delay the proceedings,” they said.
Yesterday, High Court judge Duncan Sikodol overturned an earlier coroner’s order granting the same request.
The inquest is set to run on Sept 3, 4, 8 to 12, 17 to 19, and 22 to 30.
Zara, a Form 1 religious school student in Papar, was found unconscious on July 16. She died the following day at Queen Elizabeth I Hospital.
On Aug 20, the five teenagers claimed trial to verbally abusing Zara.
