KOTA KINABALU, Sept 9 — The inquest into the death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir today heard that a police crime scene simulation suggested a fall without any external force most closely matched the position in which her unconscious body was found on the ground floor of her school hostel.
Inspector Maidon Bernadus from the Sabah police headquarters criminal investigation department told the court that the simulation was conducted using a dummy and recorded two methods of falling — the first without any push or pressure, and the second with slight force.
“The test was carried out using a mannequin weighing about 10kg, attached with additional weight so that it matched the victim’s estimated weight of 53kg,” he said.
Maidon said the dummy, borrowed from Queen Elizabeth Hospital, was released from the third floor of SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha Limauan’s hostel building as instructed by the investigating officer.
In the recording, the first simulation — without a push — landed in a position more consistent with the crime scene photo where the deceased was found.
The second test, with some force applied, landed further out on the grass.
Maidon testified that the mannequin sustained the most damage to its legs and head upon impact.
“The most obvious damage was on the legs and head,” he said, adding that there was a “loud boom” on impact which he believed would have been similar if it had been a human body.
When asked why the test was carried out at 3am, Maidon explained that the timing was chosen to replicate conditions on the night of Zara’s alleged fall on July 16.
“There were no students at the hostel at the time because it was the weekend and they had gone home,” he said.
Pressed by lawyer Datuk Ram Singh, he confirmed that the impact point of the first simulation was “almost the same” as the police photograph of Zara’s body at the scene.
He said the height and weight estimates used in the experiment were based on information given during a police briefing.
Ram Singh requested that the dummy be brought to court tomorrow for further examination of its damages, to which Maidon replied he would try to obtain it.
“I have surrendered the dummy back to the hospital but I will ask for it again,” he said.
The CD recording of the simulation was admitted into evidence.
The inquest continues tomorrow, September 10, with the same witness.
