Papar: A senior forensic pathology expert told the Coroner's Court today that Zara Qairina Mahathir most likely came down on her own will, ruling out the possibility of an accidental fall or being pushed based on forensic findings.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Datuk Seri Dr Bhupinder Singh Jeswant Singh stated there was no medical or forensic evidence to suggest any form of struggle or external force involved in the incident. He explained to the inquest's conducting officer, deputy public prosecutor Mohd Fairuz Johari, that his conclusions were drawn from injury patterns, scene reconstruction videos, and medical evidence.
Dr Bhupinder, a 74-year-old expert and Associate Professor at the Department of Forensic and Legal Medicine at RCSI and UCD Malaysia Campus (RUMC) Penang, emphasized that the injuries indicated that the deceased had crossed over the railings. When asked by Mohd Fairuz for his final opinion, Dr Bhupinder reiterated that there was no evidence of struggle or external force, suggesting the victim came down feet-first, as indicated by fractures to the calcaneus bone.
He further detailed that the impact force moved upwards through the body, causing multiple fractures before the victim fell backwards. 'Based on the experience I have on falls from height and from the findings in this particular case, my findings are forensically in the sense that she fell onto her feet and hands and then fell backwards and hit her head against the edge of the drain,' Dr Bhupinder stated, adding that the head injury was crucial to the case.
Dr Bhupinder, who served as a Consultant Forensic Pathologist at Penang Hospital from 1992 to 2018, agreed with Dr Jessie Hiu from Queen Elizabeth Hospital, who previously testified that the injuries were consistent with a fall from height. He also acknowledged the specialized field of fall biomechanics but clarified that his conclusions were based on forensic pathology findings.
During questioning by Zara's mother's legal team, led by Datuk Rizwandean M. Borhan, and her father's lawyer, Nurul Rafiqah Afdul Mutolip, Dr Bhupinder discussed the role of clothing in forensic analysis. He explained that although clothing can be important for indicating impact and possible struggles, its absence in this case did not affect his findings, as they were supported by medical imaging and other evidence.
Zara Qairina, aged 13, died on July 17 at Queen Elizabeth Hospital after being found unconscious near a drain at her school hostel in Papar. Following an order from the Attorney General's Chambers, her remains were exhumed for a post-mortem on August 8, leading to a formal inquest announced on August 13. The inquest is set to resume tomorrow.