PETALING JAYA: About 70 witnesses will testify at the inquest into the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir, one of whom will be the pathologist who conducted the post-mortem examination on the 13-year-old’s body, says the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC).
The AGC said this was decided by the prosecutors that act as the managing officer of the inquest.
The AGC said the inquest would also hear an explanation on Zara Qairina’s cause of death, and will be participated by stakeholders such as lawyers representing Zara Qairina’s mother and observers such as the Sabah Law Society.
“The managing officer has made thorough preparations, including preparing documents that will be presented during the inquest proceedings, as well as the submissions of these documents to lawyers representing the interested parties in the proceedings,” it said in a statement on Friday (Aug 29).
The AGC said it would ensure that the inquest runs smoothly to ensure justice is upheld.
It also said the dates for the inquest will be from Sept 3-5, 8-12, 17-19, 22-26 and 29-30.
On Thursday (Aug 28), Sabah Court director Azreena Aziz said a new coroner, Sessions Court judge Amir Shah Amir Hassan, would preside over the inquest.
Zara Qairina was found unconscious at a drain at 4am on July 16 near her school hostel in Papar, Sabah.
She was later pronounced dead at Hospital Queen Elizabeth on July 17.
On Aug 20, five teenagers were charged with bullying Zara Qairina in the Kota Kinabalu Juvenile Court.
