Forensic tests confirm blood on exhibits mainly Zara Qairina’s DNA

KOTA KINABALU: The 19th witness in the inquest into the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir has confirmed that the Form One student met with a group of students called ‘Circle Nineteen’ on the night of July 15.

Sinar Harian reported that the witness, who is the 10th child witness, told this to Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan at the Coroner’s Court here on Thursday (Oct 9).

Counsel Shahlan Jufri said she joined the group of students known as ‘Circle Nineteen’, which consisted of 19 female students who were close to each other.

“All members of the student group are from the same class but they live in different hostel blocks.”

She said she did not know whether this Circle Nineteen group of students also advised other students when there was a discipline issue or a missing item.

She added that she did not know whether the wardens or other teachers were aware of the existence of the Circle Nineteen student group.

The witness confirmed that the meeting with Zara on the night of July 15 consisted of the Circle Nineteen student group.

Shahlan said she stated that when she was a junior student, it was usually the senior students who would warn her for hostel rule violations.

He added that she recalled in her testimony that any warnings to junior students were usually done through a Hostel Meeting (MA) or a Room Meeting (MB).

She confirmed the meeting that night was not an MA or MB.

She said that when she was a junior student, warnings from senior students were firm.

She said the dorm head and assistant dorm head were the students who should know which warden was on duty at the hostel.

“There was a notice posted on the lower floor of the block regarding the name of the warden on duty.”

She said she did not know whether she had seen other junior students called to a different dorm room to be questioned about missing items.

She added that she did not know whether senior students or wardens would warn a junior student for making small mistakes at school or the hostel.

The witness said she could not recall if a warden had ever warned a senior student for questioning a junior.

Shahlan and his fellow legal team members Rizwandean M Borhan, Mohd Syarulnizam Mohd Salleh, Mohd Luqman Syazwan Zabidi, Farrah Nasser and Elhanan James represent Noraidah Lamat, the mother of Zara Qairina, who is an interested party in the inquest.

The late Zara Qairina was found unconscious beneath her school hostel building early on the morning of July 16 before being confirmed dead at Queen Elizabeth Hospital (HQE) the following day.