KOTA KINABALU: The mother of Zara Qairina Mahathir disagreed with the police classification of her daughter’s death as a sudden death case, telling the Coroner’s Court that she wanted justice to be served.
Noraidah Lamat said this was why she had brought the matter to court when questioned by counsel Datuk Ram Singh before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan on Friday.
Asked whether she agreed that police had classified the case as a Sudden Death Report (SDR) after their investigation, Noraidah replied: “I disagree. That is why I brought this case to court.”Ram also asked whether she believed Zara’s death was a murder.
Noraidah said she was convinced her daughter would not have taken her own life and hoped justice would be served.
When asked why Zara might have jumped from the third floor, Noraidah said she did not know, adding that her daughter had never shown any signs or spoken to her about anything of that nature.
She also declined to say whether anyone had pushed Zara, saying she had no clear information about what happened that night from either the school or the investigating police officers.
Ram referred to Noraidah’s witness statement describing Zara as a lively and strong child and asked why she might have decided to jump.
Noraidah said she did not believe her daughter would have made such a decision, describing her as cheerful and strong-willed.
“She would not easily give up, regardless of whatever provocation others subjected her to,” she said.
Asked what she meant by provocation, Noraidah referred to the teasing, bullying and name-calling Zara had allegedly endured throughout her time at the hostel.
Ram also questioned Noraidah about the absence of eyewitnesses to Zara’s fall.
Noraidah clarified that she had not personally stated there were no eyewitnesses. Instead, she said the information came from Ustaz Azhari, who told her that no one had witnessed the incident because all the students had gone to sleep by 11pm.
Trial will continue on Monday.
