KOTA KINABALU: The Coroner’s Court has agreed to refer children involved in the inquest into Zara Qairina Mahathir’s death using alphabet letters instead of their real names.
A lawyer representing one of the teenagers charged in the 13-year-old’s case said this was among the measures introduced by the court to protect the identities of children involved.
Lawyer Joan Goh said her team had sought guidance from the court on handling documents containing children’s names.
“So we asked for directions.
“There are some names of some of the children and all that,” she told reporters after the fourth day of the inquest concluded at 4.30pm today.
Goh said the court had agreed to refer the children involved by alphabet letters rather than their real names.
“I don’t know what will happen with the other trial witnesses. Maybe there will be another gag order. We’ll see tomorrow,” she added.
Goh, together with Datuk Ram Singh and Elmer Prem Ganasan, represents one of the minors charged in the Court for Children over Zara Qairina’s case.
Earlier in the inquest proceedings, Goh sought directions from the court as her team planned to tender documents that may contain children’s names.
Zara Qairina was found unconscious on July 16 at her school and was pronounced dead the following day at Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
On Aug 20, five teenagers pleaded not guilty to a charge of using insulting words against Zara Qairina.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
