The 16th deponent, an eighth child witness in the inquest into Zara Qairina Mahathir’s death, testified in the Coroner Court on Wednesday that Zara’s locker was the only one in the dormitory that could not be locked. She also mentioned that Zara kept a diary, which she would write in during the evenings and nights at the dorm.
Zara’s mother’s counsel, Syarulnizam Mohd Salleh, told reporters that the witness did not know how many diaries Zara had and had never read any of them. The witness also claimed that she was unaware of any conflicts between Zara and other students before the incident. Zara had never confided in her about personal problems, the witness said.
The witness recounted seeing Zara visit another dormitory on the night of the incident and later learning that Zara was called to meet with students from that dorm regarding missing belongings. The witness said that all dorm members, except Zara, were present during a spot check of Zara’s locker and bag. Only a few students were involved in the spot check, which lasted about 15 minutes and resulted in Zara’s belongings being in disarray. A senior student’s flag badge was found in Zara’s bag.
The witness claimed that when Zara returned from the other dormitory, she was crying and shouting, repeatedly denying the theft accusation, saying, “I didn’t steal, damn it.” The witness also mentioned that no dorm members comforted Zara, as one student suggested letting her calm down first. Zara appeared emotionally distressed after the incident.
Meanwhile, the 18th deponent, the ninth child witness, stated that she knew Zara as a schoolmate. She testified that Zara had been called by several students to meet with students from the next dorm regarding the loss of a bank card, with Zara being suspected of the theft. The witness described how a spot check was carried out on Zara’s locker and bag, where a few flag badges were found.
The witness added that later that night, she saw Zara return to her dorm, visibly upset. Zara closed her locker and lay on the floor in front of her cupboard, crying and denying the theft. The witness also recalled that during the fasting month, Zara, along with a friend, had lost money, leading to another spot check.
Zara’s mother’s counsel, Syarulnizam Mohd Salleh, told reporters that the witness did not know how many diaries Zara had and had never read any of them. The witness also claimed that she was unaware of any conflicts between Zara and other students before the incident. Zara had never confided in her about personal problems, the witness said.
The witness recounted seeing Zara visit another dormitory on the night of the incident and later learning that Zara was called to meet with students from that dorm regarding missing belongings. The witness said that all dorm members, except Zara, were present during a spot check of Zara’s locker and bag. Only a few students were involved in the spot check, which lasted about 15 minutes and resulted in Zara’s belongings being in disarray. A senior student’s flag badge was found in Zara’s bag.
The witness claimed that when Zara returned from the other dormitory, she was crying and shouting, repeatedly denying the theft accusation, saying, “I didn’t steal, damn it.” The witness also mentioned that no dorm members comforted Zara, as one student suggested letting her calm down first. Zara appeared emotionally distressed after the incident.
Meanwhile, the 18th deponent, the ninth child witness, stated that she knew Zara as a schoolmate. She testified that Zara had been called by several students to meet with students from the next dorm regarding the loss of a bank card, with Zara being suspected of the theft. The witness described how a spot check was carried out on Zara’s locker and bag, where a few flag badges were found.
The witness added that later that night, she saw Zara return to her dorm, visibly upset. Zara closed her locker and lay on the floor in front of her cupboard, crying and denying the theft. The witness also recalled that during the fasting month, Zara, along with a friend, had lost money, leading to another spot check.
