Zara's Dormant Tears: A Haunting Mystery Unveiled
The haunting cries of Zara Qairina Mahathir, echoing 'I didn't steal', still linger in the memories of her dormmate, leaving an indelible mark on a tragic night.
On the 26th day of the inquest, a child witness, the 18th to testify, revealed a chilling account of the events leading up to Zara's untimely demise. This student, who studied and resided with Zara at the same school in Papar, shared her recollections with the Coroner's Court in Kota Kinabalu on October 22nd.
Representing Zara's mother, lawyer Mohd Syarulnizam Mohd Salleh, narrated the witness's testimony. The night before the incident, July 15th, a student called out to Zara from the dorm's front, requesting her presence in the adjacent room to meet with seniors. At that moment, Zara was writing by her locker.
But here's where the story takes a mysterious turn: Zara complied and went to the next room. Upon her return at 11 pm, she lay on the floor, tears streaming, and cried out those haunting words. The witness, who was awake, saw Zara's distress and heard her cries, as did all the dormmates. Yet, surprisingly, no one offered solace or comfort.
The dorm lights were off, and Zara, without a pillow, rested her head on her arm, facing the left side of the bed. This was an unprecedented sight for the witness, who had never seen Zara cry or shout in the dorm before.
Adding to the intrigue, the court learned that a wallet had gone missing that very day, and Zara was accused of theft. Four of her dormmates searched her locker, bag, and trousers but found nothing. Notably, no teachers or wardens were involved in this search or the subsequent floor meeting led by senior students.
Lawyer Joan Goh, representing a child implicated in the bullying case, presented the 19th witness, Zara's classmate, who described her as cheerful. This witness mentioned Zara's green diary with the inscription 'Love and Peace', a personal journal whose contents remained unknown. Interestingly, the witness also revealed losing a Malaysian flag pin from her school bag on July 8th.
Zara Qairina, only 13, passed away on July 17th at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, a day after being found unconscious near her school hostel. The inquest, a quest for truth and justice, will continue on October 23rd, leaving many questions hanging in the air.
And this is where it gets controversial: Was Zara's final cry a plea for understanding or a sign of something more sinister? Could her dormmates' inaction be interpreted as a form of silent consent or mere shock? Share your thoughts below, but remember, every perspective matters in this complex narrative.
