THE inquest into the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir will enter a critical new phase next month as the Kota Kinabalu Coroner's Court prepares to hear extensive expert evidence from a child clinical psychologist following testimony from 75 witnesses over 78 days of proceedings.
Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan adjourned the hearing on Friday and fixed July 13 to 17 for the next stage of the inquest.
Before proceedings concluded, counsel Shahlan Jufri informed the court that the legal team representing Zara Qairina's mother, Noraidah Lamat, would first call Child Clinical Psychologist Dr Noor Aishah Rosli to testify, replacing the previously scheduled appearance of Consultant Psychiatrist Dr Wong Haw Huo.
"I wish to inform the court that for next month's proceedings, our side will call Dr Noor Aishah first instead of Dr Wong Haw Huo because he is unable to attend that session.
"Dr Haw Huo will be called in August," Sinar Harian reported him saying.
Shahlan said Dr Noor Aishah's testimony is expected to span most, if not all, of the scheduled hearing week, as the expert report she prepared exceeds 400 pages.
He said the proceedings from July 13 to 17 are therefore expected to be devoted almost entirely to her evidence.
Shahlan appeared together with Datuk Rizwandean M. Borhan, Mohd Syarulnizam Mohd Salleh, Mohd Luqman Syazwan Zabidi, Farrah Nasser and Elhanan James as the legal team representing Noraidah Lamat, an interested party in the inquest.
The inquest has now entered its 78th day, with the Coroner's Court having heard testimony from 75 witnesses, including several child witnesses, as it continues examining the circumstances surrounding Zara Qairina's death. - June 26, 2026
