Kota Kinabalu: A consultant forensic psychiatrist on Wednesday maintained his opinion that the manner of death of Zara Qairina Mahathir was most consistent with suicide, while stressing that the final determination remains the prerogative of the Coroner’s Court.
Recalled witness Dr Chua Sze Hung testified before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan that clinical psychiatric assessments are not meant to be conducted retrospectively or to determine the manner of death.
Responding to conducting officer Nahra Dollah, Chua stood by his expert conclusion on the balance of probabilities following questions regarding the methodology of another expert, Dr Wong.
Chua stated that a psychological autopsy is specifically designed to determine the manner of death, offering more relevant assistance to the court than a clinical psychiatric evaluation.
He also agreed that another expert’s concession regarding the clinical significance of the events on July 15 supported his own finding that a stressful interrogation and isolation served as the direct triggering factor.
