Kota Kinabalu: A forensic document examiner told the Coroner’s Court on Wednesday that multiple individuals contributed to handwritten entries found in several journals linked to the late Zara Qairina Mahathir.
Testifying as the 79th witness in the inquest, Tay Eue Kam said her examination involved comparing entries across four journals and 15 loose sheets against specimen handwriting from Zara and her schoolmates.
Reading her witness statement before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan, Tay revealed that while Zara was the primary writer for most entries in two journals marked W1 and W2, several pages and recovered indented writings were contributed by other writers.
She further testified that journals marked W3 and WK9, alongside the loose sheets, contained writing from more than two individuals, though certain entries and indented writings were positively matched to Zara's specimen handwriting.
Tay noted several limitations in her analysis, highlighting a gap in Zara's workbook specimens between late 2024 and early 2025, alongside the fact that adolescent handwriting often retains school-taught copybook characteristics that complicate writer identification.
