KOTA KINABALU: Zara Qairina Mahathir was believed to have been last seen in front of her hostel washroom on the third floor prior to her fall on July 16, the Coroner’s Court was told.
There were also footprints found on the ground floor where she was found unconscious, prompting investigators to use these clues in their injury reconstruction or fall simulation procedures.
Insp Maidon Bernandus from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) D10 at the Sabah police headquarters, who was the one who did the simulation on the site on Aug 3, said that based on initial investigations, Zara was believed to have fallen from the third floor, feet first.
“This was established from witness accounts and initial probes into the case,” he said.
That is why when they dropped their mannequin for the simulation, it had to be feet first, he explained to the court.
There were two instances of simulations done, one without push and the second with minimal force, Insp Maidon said.
This is to test where and how the mannequin, which measured 180cm in length and made to weigh up to 53kg to mimic Zara’s weight, would land, fall and “get hurt”.
Based on Insp Maidon’s description of the mannequin’s fall, it seemed that there were similarities in the injuries sustained by Zara with the damage on the mannequin after it fell for the first time (without push).
During his testimony, he showed the court a broken mannequin which was used in the simulated fall with two broken calves close to the ankles, injured head (dislocated from torso), and other damages on the body including the bricks tied the waist.
The major injuries on Zara’s bodies were on her head, her ankles, wrists, back and pelvis area.
However, there were differences in the way Zara had apparently landed and how she was found (face up) and how the mannequin landed (face down).
Earlier forensics hypothesis had suggested that Zara landed feet first but the mannequin landed sideways or body first.
Insp Maidon explained that this was because one was a living being and the other, a non-living thing and there could be differences as well as some similarities to help their probe.
The original mannequin weighed just around 10kg but bricks were placed around its waist until it weighed 53kg.
Zara’s family counsels had suggested the possibility of this method making the weight distribution uneven and could not accurately depict Zara’s body weight, to which the inspector said he did not agree to this statement.
A second simulation will be conducted using a different mannequin but this will be done by defence counsels representing one of the five teenagers accused of having links to this case.
Zara’s family lawyers on the other hand, are bringing in their own biomechanics experts to further determine the accuracy of her fall and circumstances surrounding the incident.
Before the court adjourned, witnesses who have not completed giving their testimonies were reminded to not talk about the proceeding inquest to others except on work related matters.
