No other trigger linked to Zara Qairina’s death besides dorm interrogation, inquest told

“KOTA KINABALU, May 22 — A consultant forensic psychiatrist told the Coroner’s Court here today that he disagreed that the late Zara Qairina Mahathir was very likely to have committed suicide even without the confrontation at her seniors’ dorm. Dr Chua Sze Hung testified before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan that suicide risk factors can improve or worsen. “It is dynamic and it would be hypothetical,” the witness said under examination-in-chief by counsel Abdul Fikry Jaafar Abdullah. Abdul Fikry: Without the confrontation there is a possibility Zara may have committed suicide due to other triggers or destabilising factors, correct? Dr Chua: I disagree, I did not find any other trigger or destabilising factor on that night or morning other than the issue in the said dorm. Abdul Fikry: Before the confrontation, Zara had exhibited predominant suicide risk factors? Dr Chua: Yes, Zara had multiple predisposing suicide risk factors but it was inadequate for a suicide to occur without direct factors such as the interrogation in the said dorm. Abdul Fikry: Based on your materials you have reviewed, what is the estimated time of the confrontation in the said dorm? Dr Chua: It was after the return to the hostel which was after 9pm onwards and before 12 midnight. Abdul Fikry: And what is the estimated time when Zara was found lying on the ground? Dr Chua: If I remember correctly was roughly around 3am. Abdul Fikry: Based on the timing, can you tell the court, how long is the estimated time between the confrontation and the time when Zara was found lying on the ground? Dr Chua: It was probably around three to four hours. Abdul Fikry: Based on your findings, your conclusion, was the manner of death consistent with suicide, correct? Dr Chua: Correct. Abdul Fikry: According to the timeline, Zara did not immediately commit suicide after the confrontation, correct? Dr Chua: According to the timeline, after the confrontation, Zara returned back to her dorm. She was crying profusely in a manner her friends had not seen before. She was in profoundly stressed following the interrogation. She then approached a few of her friends, namely A22, A23, and A24 asking for a (pair of) scissors before leaving the room. She was then noted to be in the toilet by A25, A26, and A27. The nearest most direct factor identified at this point is the confrontation had to be noted that being physically and psychological isolated a person, who has problem regulating her emotions, would likely engage in other emotionally focussed strategies including rumination together with the cognitive restriction it created a sense of no alternative and in ‘escapability’ that led to the eventual suicide. I didn’t see any other factors in between those hours other than the interrogation. Abdul Fikry: However, the confrontation had long ended before Zara was found lying on the ground? Agree? Dr Chua: One has to be aware that an adolescent, who has emotional regulation issue, rejection sensitivity, the experience would have been perceived more narratively and the pain more intensely. Ruminating on it continues the pain and exacerbates the pain, making the pain last long after the confrontation. Abdul Fikry is one of the lawyers representing child offenders with the pseudonyms Students B, C, D, and E. Meanwhile, Dr Chua stated Zara Qairina’s case is his first psychological autopsy. He said his previous experience in court was to testify in, for example, insanity cases. Under examination-in-chief by counsel Datuk Rizwandean Bukhary M Borhan, the 67th witness said he did not recall testifying in cases involving adolescents. The inquest resumes on June 22. Zara Qairina, 13, was found under her dormitory building on July 16, 2025 and died the next day in hospital. Her remains were exhumed on August 9, 2025 and a postmortem was performed on August 10 at the Department of Forensic Medicine, Queen Elizabeth Hospital. On August 20, 2025, five minors, who were give the pseudonyms Student A, B, C, D, and E, were charged with using insulting words against Zara Qairina. — The Borneo Post

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