KOTA KINABALU: The inquest into the death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir heard that doctors knew her chances of survival were extremely slim from the moment she was admitted to hospital.
Queen Elizabeth Hospital neurosurgeon Dr Pavankumar Balachandran said Zara Qairina had suffered severe traumatic brain injury with hypoxic changes and showed no brainstem reflexes.
She was unresponsive and on a ventilator, with her Glasgow Coma Scale at the lowest level.
“The prognosis was severely guarded,” he testified, adding that he later held a family conference to explain the situation to her mother and relatives.
The Kota Kinabalu Coroner’s Court also heard from police forensic officer Insp Maidon Bernandus, who detailed a simulation at Zara Qairina’s hostel block in the wee hours of Aug 3.
Using a borrowed 10kg mannequin from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, which was further weighted with bricks to match Zara Qairina’s 53kg weight, investigators tested two scenarios: the first fall without a push and the second with minimal force.
Maidon, who has 31 years’ experience as a policeman, told the court that in the first simulation, the mannequin landed about 2.14m away from the building wall at ground level.
In the second simulation, the mannequin landed about 3.45m from the building wall at ground level.
“Overall, the results showed that the first simulation (without push) was the closest match to the victim’s position based on the investigating officer’s earlier findings and briefing,” said Maidon.
The simulation, he said, took about three hours.
He also said that no students were present during the exercise, as it was conducted during the weekend when dormitory residents were allowed to return to their own homes.
On another matter, Noraidah Lamat, the mother of Zara Qairina, launched an inquest support fund in collaboration with non-governmental organisations to help cover travel and accommodation costs for witnesses.
Family lawyer Mohd Sharulnizam Mohd Salleh said that all lawyers are acting pro bono and that the fund is solely for logistical expenses.
The inquest continues with further witnesses expected this week.
