By Olivia Miwil
KOTA KINABALU: None of the late Zara Qairina Mahathir's dormmates tried to comfort or calm her on the night before she was found unconscious.
The eighth child witness told the Coroner's Court that on the night of July 15, she saw Zara Qairina go to the next dorm to meet several students regarding missing belongings.
"When Zara returned from the other dorm, she was crying and shouted in denial: 'Aku nda curi bah, sial' (I didn't steal, damn it)," lawyer Mohd Syarulnizam Mohd Salleh told reporters after the 20th day of the inquest concluded yesterday.
Syarulnizam, who is representing Zara Qairina's family, said the witness said no one in the dorm tried to comfort or calm the 13-year-old girl because someone had remarked, "Just leave her alone first, let her calm down".
He added that the witness said Zara Qairina appeared to be in a bad mood after meeting the students in the other dorm.
The witness also testified that before the night of the incident, she was unsure whether Zara Qairina had any conflicts with other students, adding that she had never confided in her about any personal problems.
"The witness also said that Zara Qairina kept a diary at school and would usually make entries while she was in the dormitory in the evening or at night.
"The witness did not know how many diaries Zara Qairina had and had never read any of them," he said, adding the court was also told that only Zara Qairina's locker was damaged and not locked.
Meanwhile, lawyer Joan Goh said another child witness testified that before Hari Raya, she and another friend also had their money stolen.
After the incidents were reported, a senior student, who had obtained permission from the school authorities, found a sum of money in Zara Qairina's locker.
"I think they found about RM100 in Zara's locker before Hari Raya. They took the money but left about RM30 for Zara," said Goh who is representing one of the children who was charged in Zara's case.
Zara Qairina, 13, was found unconscious on July 16 at her hostel before being pronounced dead the next day at Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
The inquest will resume today with more child witnesses.
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