A forensic pathologist told an inquest in Kota Kinabalu today the death of Form 1 student Zara Qairina Mahathir was not likely caused by an accidental fall or by being pushed from a standing position at the scene.
Dr Jessie Hiu, who has conducted an average of 100 to 150 autopsies yearly, said she was asked to provide her professional opinion on the antemortem (pre-death) injuries suffered by the teen.
She also said she had reviewed Zara’s medical records, including radiographs, CT and CTA scan reports, as well as conducted an examination at the scene, Berita Harian reported.
“Based on the inspection at the deceased’s hostel, the measurement from the floor to the top horizontal iron rail attached to the concrete wall on the third floor was 118cm.
“I was informed that the deceased’s antemortem height was 154cm. The difference in height between the deceased and the top horizontal iron rail was 36cm.
“The height of the iron rail is more than three-quarters of the deceased’s height and is likely above her centre of gravity,” she said when reading out her five-page witness statement before coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan.
Hiu noted that for women, the centre of gravity was typically in the pelvic region, usually below the navel, in a standing position.
“Based on the measurements of the height and width of the concrete wall, the height of the iron rail, and the deceased’s antemortem height, it is possible for her to have climbed the concrete wall, crossed the iron rail, and stood on the concrete wall,” she said.
Traces of anti-seizure drug found in Zara’s kidney tissue
Hiu said tissue samples from Zara’s liver and kidney were taken for a toxicology analysis.
She said the toxicology results from the hospital’s chemistry department did not detect any common drugs in the liver sample.
“However, phenytoin was found in her kidney tissue, commonly used to treat epilepsy and also prescribed as a preventive treatment in severe traumatic brain injury cases to reduce the risk of early seizures after trauma,” she said.
She said no swelling, bruising, lacerations, or tears were found around the deceased’s genitalia.
Hiu has been serving as a forensic pathologist at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu since 1998.
She has also testified as an expert witness on an average of 10 to 15 times a year at the magistrates’, sessions, and High Courts in Sabah and Labuan.
Zara was found unconscious at 4am on July 16 after allegedly falling from the third floor of her school’s hostel in Papar, Sabah. She died in hospital in Kota Kinabalu the following day.
Her body was exhumed on Aug 9 to allow for a post-mortem after allegations of bullying were raised.
The inquest is set to run on Sept 3, 4, 8 to 12, 17 to 19, and 22 to 30.
