Kota Kinabalu: Dr Hiu told the Coroner’s Court that it was impossible to place Zara in a washing machine. According to Dr Hiu, during her visit to the hostel she found a domestic washing machine next to the staircase.
To another question by Ram on what smell did she perceive from the decomposed body, Dr Hiu replied: “It’s smelly.”Asked by the conducting officer, Deputy Head of Prosecution II Datuk Badius Zaman Ahmad, whether the deceased could be placed inside the washing machine, Dr Hiu said she did not check the size of the drum.
“I was informed the deceased was 53kg. I don’t know whether a 53kg person can fit into a washing machine. However, I don’t think the washing machine can start with a 53kg load,” she said.
Dr Hiu further testified that she had explained earlier that based on the height of the concrete railing and the metal, it was impossible for the deceased to fall off accidentally standing just next to the railing.
“About the push, it will be just push against the railing and cannot fall off the railing,” she said.
“Based on the scene and post-mortem examinations, there is no evidence of assault but the cause of death was fall from height. Based on the information I received regarding the position and location of the deceased that she was found on July 16, this year, she has to either jump or swing,” said Dr Hiu.
The conducting officers consist of State Prosecution Director Nahra Dollah, Deputy Public Prosecutors (DPP) Mohd Fairus Johari, Dana Arabi Wazani, Dacia Jane Romanus and Sofia Sawayan.
Zara’s family legal team were counsels Shahlan Jufri, Rizwandean M Borhan, Mohd Luqman Syazwan Zabidi, Mohd Syarulnizam Mohd Salleh and Farrah Nasser.
For Zara’s father, Mahathir Hashim Marikin, was represented by counsel Sherzali Asli, Nurul Rafeeqa Afdul Mutolip and Clarice Vyonne Conrad.
Four of the teenagers were represented by counsel Azhier Farhan Arisin and Abdul Fikry Jaafar Abdullah while counsels Datuk Ram Singh, Joan Goh, and Prem Elmer Ganasan representing one of them.
Sabah Law Society (SLS) and Ministry of Education’s representatives acted as a watching brief to observe the proceedings.
During the proceedings, a mannequin which was brought by Ram’s team, was used by Dr Hiu to mark the injuries.
The inquest trial will resume on Sept 8 this year and the next deponent will be a chemist.