Photo shows the Kota Kinabalu Court Complex. — Bernama photo
KOTA KINABALU (April 17): A legal team representing the mother of the late Zara Qairina Mahathir told the Coroner’s Court here on Friday that they will call eleven witnesses to testify in an inquest into Zara’s death.
Counsel Datuk Rizwandean Bukhary M Borhan informed Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan that three of the witnesses are handwriting and forensic document experts.
“Apart from that, we have a child psychologist who will be conducting a psychological autopsy, and a psychiatrist, making a total of six expert witnesses.
“We also may be calling one child witness, Zara’s mother Noraidah Lamat, Noraidah’s sister-in-law, Noraidah’s brother and Zara’s cousin,” Rizwandean said.
He added that one expert report has already been served on the parties, while the remaining reports will be served by next week.
The coroner then asked counsel Nurul Rafeeqa Afdul Mutolip, who represents Zara’s father Mahathir Mohd Hashim, to confirm whether her client would be called as a witness.
Nurul said she would need to consult her client.
“I’ll speak to the father,” she said.
Amir Shah said Zara’s father should be called as a witness and attend court.
Meanwhile, the conducting officer’s team informed the court that they also have a witness to testify on Zara’s character.
They explained that the witness was not initially listed following instructions not to call them, but may be called if the mother’s legal team raises character evidence. The witness is Zara’s stepsister.
The inquest will resume from May 18 to 22.