A SPECIALIST doctor who conducted the post-mortem examination on the body of Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matin said the cause of death of the autistic child was due to strangulation.
He also said the victim had multiple wounds on his ears, some extending to the back of his head, as well as on his anus.
Medicine forensic consultant specialist Dr Rohayu Shahar Adnan, who headed the Sungai Buloh Hospital Forensic Medicine Department, had carried out a post-mortem on the 6-year-old, who is believed to have been killed, at noon on Dec 7, 2023,
He was testifying at the trial involving Zayn Rayyan's parents, Ismanira Abdul Manaf and Zaim Ikhwan Zahari, both 30-years-old, who are facing charges of neglecting their son.
Dr Rohayu, who was the 27th prosecution witness, said this conclusion was based on the results of the post-mortem conducted at Sungai Buloh Hospital, at noon on Dec 7, 2023.
The procedure was conducted in the presence of investigating officer Assistant Superintendent Mohd Nasir Mustapha.
The 54-year-old expert said the body of the boy, who has autism, was 119cm tall and weighed 17.2 kilogrammes.
While reading the witness statement, Dr Rohayu said that the evidence of strangulation was visible from muscle bruising in the neck and thyroid gland.
"The neck muscle and thyroid glands under these strangulation marks were also bruised.
"The strangulation on the neck, which bruised the neck muscles and thyroid glands, showed it was strong enough to cause the blockage of oxygen into the lungs and brains, which drowned the deceased and caused his death.
"I conclude the death was ligature strangulation," he said.
She added that the post-mortem also revealed evidence of blunt and sharp trauma.
Furthermore, the witness, who has worked in forensic medicine since 2003, said that foreign objects were found in Zayn Rayyan's respiratory tract and stomach.
"The deceased's bruised palate showed foreign objects were inserted or were forcefully pushed into the mouth.
"However, this foreign object did not cause death to the deceased because the deceased did not choke to death due to insertion of foreign objects.
"No serious damages were found on the internal organs," she said.
The trial before judge Dr Syahliza Warnoh continues.
The prosecution was represented by Raja Zaizul Faridah Raja Zaharudin, Aqharie Abdul Aziz and Nur Sabrina Zubairi.
Lawyers Haresh Mahadevan and Ramzani Idris appeared for the couple.
The trial before Sessions Court judge Dr Syahliza Warnoh continues.
On Dec 6, 2023, Zayn Rayyan was found dead in a tributary near Idaman Apartments, Damansara Damai, at 10pm.
The victim was previously reported missing before being found lying approximately 200m from his residential block. – April 8, 2025
