KOTA KINABALU: The late Zara Qairina Mahathir’s injuries were not consistent with those typically caused by a beating, forensic pathologist Dr Jessie Hiu told the Coroner’s Court today.
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital expert was examined by defence counsel Azhier Farhan, who is representing one of the accused children in the case, on whether Zara’s injuries from the fall could instead have resulted from assault, such as kicking, repeated beating, dragging, or the use of blunt objects.
Azhier: In Zara’s injuries, did you observe a typical pattern of being repeatedly struck by blunt objects?
Dr Hiu: The fractures she sustained on both feet were caused by high-impact force, typically seen in falls from height or road traffic accidents.
Azhier: The reconstruction shows Zara landed feet first, the force travelled up her spine, and finally her head struck the ground. Is this sequence consistent with a beating?
Dr Hiu: The injuries are consistent with a fall from height, involving two direct impacts, a deceleration-type mechanism.
She said that the force from a fall travels internally up the body, which differs from the direct external force seen in beatings.
Dr Hiu: Kicking or stepping on the feet would not cause such fractures.
Dr Hiu: The injuries to the lumbar vertebrae were caused by internal force, not direct impact from assault.
Dr Hiu: For assault to cause such damage, the force would have to be extremely strong, leaving extensive overlying skin and soft tissue injuries, which were not observed in this case.
Azhier: Did you find any injuries on Zara’s body that would indicate she was beaten, strangled, or physically assaulted?
Dr Hiu: No.
The pathologist also said “no” when asked whether there was any indication Zara had been dragged or placed at the site where she was found unconscious on July 16.
Earlier, Dr Hiu testified that the neurosurgery ward certified Zara’s death as being due to severe traumatic brain injury with hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy.
The inquest adjourned at noon and will resume at 2pm.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
