By Olivia Miwil
KOTA KINABALU: The late Zara Qairina Mahathir might have been deprived of her usual coping mechanisms after a confrontation with a group of peers at SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha on July 15 last year.
Expert witness Dr Chua Sze Hung testified that the 13-year-old's coping mechanisms largely involved seeking support and interaction with her peers, writing in diaries and, to some extent, non-suicidal self-injury.
"On the night of the incident, after the confrontation at room A-3-6, I believe she was deprived of her usual coping mechanisms," he said before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan on the 63rd day of the inquest into her death.
The 67th witness added that, based on the reconstruction of the incident, multiple witnesses confirmed that Zara was in severe distress when she returned to her room at A-3-5.
"One of the witnesses said she appeared the saddest that night.
"The deceased cherished interaction with her peers. On that night, after the confrontation, for various reasons, her peers did not come to console her. That would have had a significant psychological impact on her."
Deputy public prosecutor and coordinating officer Mohd Fairuz Johari also examined whether the confrontation could have been the sole factor that led to Zara being found on the ground floor of the school dormitory the following day.
Dr Chua said he did not believe the incident was a single factor.
"The suicide could have occurred at another time under different circumstances and other destabilising factors, but it is unlikely it would have occurred that night or the following morning without the confrontation at A-3-6.
"However, the confrontation at A-3-6 was definitely the triggering and precipitating factor."
Meanwhile, Dr Chua said he had covered a sufficient number of key witnesses — about 40 — spanning major aspects of the deceased's life and the circumstances leading to the incident.
He added that a large proportion of the assessment was based on secondary data and collateral information obtained from interviews and document reviews.
"But I do consider the diaries as primary data."
Zara, 13, was found unconscious on the ground floor of SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha on July 16 and was pronounced dead the following day.
The inquest will resume this afternoon.
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