KOTA KINABALU, Sept 29 — With only 19 per cent of the inquest into the death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir completed, proceedings are expected to extend beyond the upcoming state election and likely continue through the end of the year.
Lawyer Datuk Ram Singh, who represents one of the students accused of bullying Zara Qairina, said that the pace of the proceedings shows that it will extend well beyond the initially scheduled end date of September 30
The coroner has analysed the progress of the inquest and said only 14 witnesses had been heard so far out of an estimated 68.
“That’s only about 19 per cent into the case. Initially, it was fixed until September 30, but looking at the pace, it’s very unlikely to finish this year,” said Ram.
He is hoping to call an additional expert witness, while Zara Qairina’s mother’s lawyers are also expected to call in their own witnesses.
“So the way it is going, it will most probably go beyond election time. Even December will not be enough,” he added.
The inquest is in its 16th day, with only 14 of the 68 witnesses heard so far.
Some 35 witnesses are children, who have to be interviewed on camera.
Zara Qairina’s unconscious body was found at 3am on July 16 on the ground floor of SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha. She suffered injuries consistent with a fall from height and succumbed to her injuries the next day.
Police initially classified the case as sudden death, but intense speculation and public outcry led to the exhumation and autopsy of her body and an inquest to look into her cause of death.
Police later found elements of bullying.
Five teenagers have been charged with bullying Zara Qairina the night before she was found.
