THE inquest into the death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir took an unusual turn when the lead pathologist was questioned about a washing machine found near the hostel staircase.
Dr Jessie Hiu confirmed its presence on the ground floor, describing it as a domestic unit rather than an industrial model.
She admitted she did not check the size of the drum but noted the machine could not have operated with a 53kg load – the same as Zara’s body weight.
“I didn’t check the size of the drum, but the deceased was 53kg. I don’t know if a 53kg person can fit into a washing machine. However, the machine cannot start with a 53kg load,” she said when questioned by deputy public prosecutor Badiusman Ahmad.
The washing machine detail momentarily diverted attention from the central issue of how Zara went over the third-floor railing.
This comes after viral social media posts suggested the girl was put inside a washing machine before her death.
Hiu also noted the likeliness that the girl could have crossed it by jumping, swinging, or climbing before falling from the third floor of her dormitory.
She said the reconstruction and injuries indicated active movement.
Zara’s left foot struck first, followed by her right, before she landed on her side and then her back, a sequence inconsistent with a simple slip that would have sent her head-first.
Her evidence followed testimony a day earlier that the corridor railing stood at 118cm, while Zara’s height was 154cm, making it virtually impossible for her to have toppled over without deliberate effort.
The Coroner’s Court has adjourned for a brief recess. – September 4, 2025
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