Lawyers urge public to avoid speculation as Zara Qairina inquest heads to January ruling

Lawyers involved in the inquest into the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir have urged the public to avoid speculation and allow the judicial process to take its course following the conclusion of witness testimonies. — Daily Express pic

First Published: Friday, 16 Oct 2026 3:57 PM MYT

KOTA KINABALU, Oct 16 — Lawyers involved in the inquest into the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir have urged the public to avoid speculation and allow the judicial process to take its course following the conclusion of witness testimonies.

Lawyer Joan Goh, who represents one of the teenagers accused in the bullying case involving the Form One student, said she hoped the evidence presented during the inquest had been addressed comprehensively.

“We hope there will be no speculation and no unwarranted accusations against anybody, as this remains a tragedy for all the children whose lives have been deeply affected by this case.

“Justice must be guided by evidence and the rule of law, rather than public sentiment or speculation,” Goh told reporters on the sidelines of the proceedings at the Coroner’s Court here today.

Goh also stressed the need to protect the rights, welfare and future of the children involved, urging all parties to respect the legal process and allow them to move forward with their lives.

“The pursuit of justice for Zara must never come at the expense of justice for others, and our thoughts remain with the family over this tragic loss,” she said.

Meanwhile, lawyer Shahlan Jufri, representing Zara Qairina’s mother, said his team had several matters to address in its written submissions, which must be filed by December 15.

He said the coroner had asked all parties to assist the court in identifying discrepancies in witness testimonies and evidence, and to provide their views on the visit conducted at the school.

“The coroner also sought feedback and recommendations from all parties on improving future inquest proceedings, including school safety and investigation procedures,” he said.

Shahlan said his team would review 350 documentary exhibits and more than 5,000 pages of proceedings notes accumulated over the 96-day inquest before filing its submissions.

“We hope the court’s eventual decision will be fair to all parties,” he said.

The Coroner’s Court today fixed January 15 next year to deliver its findings on Zara Qairina’s death.

After 96 days of proceedings, the Coroner’s Court on Wednesday concluded hearing the testimonies of 83 witnesses, including experts, children, teachers and family members.

The inquest began on September 13 last year, with Queen Elizabeth Hospital forensic pathologist Dr Jessie Hiu called as the first witness and investigating officer Insp Wong Yew Zhung as the final witness.

The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) announced on August 13, 2025, that an inquest would be conducted into Zara Qairina’s death after reviewing the investigation report submitted by the police.

The decision followed the exhumation of Zara Qairina’s remains on August 9, 2025, at the Tanjung Ubi Muslim Cemetery in Kampung Mesapol, Sipitang, which was completed at 7.15pm to facilitate a post-mortem examination.

Zara Qairina died at Queen Elizabeth Hospital on July 17, 2025, a day after she was found unconscious near a drain at her school hostel in the early hours of July 16. — Bernama