Kota Kinabalu: A legal team representing Zara Qairina Mahathir’s mother will call eleven deponents, comprising six experts and Zara’s family members, to testify in the inquest.
Counsel Datuk Rizwandean M Borhan, who appeared on behalf of his team, informed Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan on the matter after the inquest was adjourned on Friday afternoon.
“We have our deponents consisting of six experts namely Document Examiner Dr Linthini Gannetion, Handwriting and Document Examiners Dr Tay Eue Kam and Dr Dzulkiflee Ismail, Forensic Scientist Dr Wan Nur Syuhaila Mat Desa, Child Psychologist Dr Noor Aishah Rosli and Psychiatrist Dr Wong Haw Huo.
“Our other deponents are Zara’s family members including her mother, uncle, cousin and another school student,” he said.
Rizwandean further told the coroner that one expert report has already been served to parties, while the remaining reports will be served to all parties by next week.
During the proceedings, Amir asked counsel Nurul Rafeeqa Abdul Mutolip, who represented Zara’s father Mahathir Mohd Hashim, to confirm whether her client would be a deponent.
“Zara’s father should be called as a deponent and he should come to court even though he chooses to remain silent.
“My concern is there might be deponents to be recalled,” he said.
Nurul then replied that they would discuss the matter with their client.
Meanwhile, the conducting officer team informed the court that they also have a deponent to give evidence on Zara’s character.
The team explained that they did not list the said deponent as there was an instruction not to call them.
However, if Zara’s mother’s legal team calls for character evidence, the conducting officer may also call their deponent, namely Zara’s stepsister.
