Mother tells court trauma prevented daughter sharing encounter with Zara prior to her death

KOTA KINABALU (April 1): The Coroner’s Court here has heard how a new child witness suffered from trauma following the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir.

The child’s mother testified that the 14-year-old, the 65th inquest witness, did not immediately share about her final encounter with Zara because she was still traumatised.

“Almost three months had passed when my daughter told me in detail what had happened that night. She told me about an incident related to the death of Zara,” said the 41-year-old.

“My daughter told me that on the night of July 15, 2025, Zara was crying and told my daughter that she (Zara) wanted to jump.

“My daughter then told Zara: ‘You think you will enter paradise if you jump?’ and held Zara’s hand, then later brought Zara back to Zara’s dorm,” she testified.

The witness further said that after bringing Zara back to her dorm, her daughter had proceeded to go back to her own dorm in Block A.

“My daughter blamed herself that if she had asked Zara to talk that night, the incident may not have happened,” she added.

The witness said she only contacted a teacher at her daughter’s school in February about what her daughter had shared.

The witness was the 66th deponent to testify before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan on the second day of continuation of the inquest after a break for the fasting month and Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

Last November, the inquest completed hearing from 35 child witnesses and was to have proceeded with expert and remaining adult witnesses.

Zara, 13, was found unconscious under her dormitory building on July 16, 2025 and died the next day in hospital.

On Aug 20, five minors, who were give the pseudonyms Student A, B, C, D, and E, were charged with using insulting words against Zara, with the court case currently ongoing.

The inquest continues on April 2.