Text messages Ismanira Abdul Manaf sent to her husband before and on the day their son Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matin went missing do not indicate any harmful intent towards the boy or herself, a child psychologist told the sessions court here today.
Dr Noor Aishah Rosli, 49, said her evaluation of the couple’s WhatsApp conversations indicated that Ismanira was merely venting her emotions to her husband, Zaim Ikhwan Zahari.
Among the messages purportedly sent by Ismanira include “stress nak mati” (I’m stressed to death), “rasa macam nak bunuh diri” (I feel like killing myself), “lantak la nak hidup ke mati” (I don’t care whether I live or die), and “budak ni elok je, takde la aku pukul dia” (this boy is fine, I didn’t hit him).
“This is a wife pouring out her emotions to her husband. It’s normal, especially from a mother caring for two children with autism.
“From a psychological point of view, we cannot conclude that she intended to commit a crime based on those words,” said the fifth and last defence witness.
Noor Aishah added that it was not unusual for people to use such strong language when confiding in their partner, saying it did not mean they had harmful intentions.
While Ismanira might have been emotionally exhausted when she spoke about taking her own life, Noor Aishah said it appeared to be merely an emotional outburst aimed at gaining Zaim’s attention.
When asked by Ismanira’s lawyer Haresh Mahadevan whether Zayn walking a few steps behind his mother before he went missing could amount to neglect, Noor Aishah disagreed.
“Neglect must be assessed from the child’s birth until the day of the incident. Everything prior to the incident appeared normal.
“It was only on that day that he happened to be walking behind her, and a few seconds later, he went missing. That alone cannot be defined as neglect,” she said.
She added that no professional body in the world would consider a mother walking ahead of her child as an act of neglect.
Ismanira and Zaim, both aged 30, were charged last year with neglecting Zayn in a manner likely to cause him physical harm.
However, Zaim was acquitted after the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against him.
The alleged offence took place in PJU Damansara Damai between noon on Dec 5, 2023 – when Zayn was reported missing – and 9.55pm the next day, when his body was found in a stream near his home at Apartment Idaman, Damansara Damai.
Deputy public prosecutors Raja Zaizul Faridah Raja Zaharudin, Aqharie Durranie Aziz and Nur Sabrina Zubairi are leading the prosecution.
Judge Syahliza Warnoh fixed Oct 31 for a decision.
