Zara Qairina inquest: Handwriting expert defends journal analysis despite rival's differing testimony

On September 11, a document examiner took the stand to explain her analysis of writings linked to Zara Qairina Mahathir during an inquest into the 13-year-old student's death. Dr Linthini Gannetion, the forensic handwriting expert, testified that her findings had not changed despite another expert's differing testimony. Deputy Public Prosecutor Dana Arabi Wazani questioned Nurul Atiqah Mohd Noh, who was the second witness, about her conclusions.

Nurul affirmed that she agreed with Dr Linthini's assessment that the handwriting of a growing adolescent could change over time. However, she clarified that the presence of scribbles, minor amendments, or different writing instruments on a small portion of an entry did not necessarily alter the overall conclusion that the entry was written by Zara.

The frequency or pattern of writing dates, she explained, is a characteristic that can be observed but is not the sole criterion for determining the writer or the existence of interference.

Regarding the discrepancies pointed out by Dr Linthini, Nurul stated that her findings were consistent with the expert's. She added that the absence of contemporary samples for a period did not necessarily mean that no conclusion could be drawn. Nurul emphasized that the examiner's skills in identifying, assessing, and weighing the characteristics of handwriting were crucial in a comprehensive examination, even if instruments like the Video Spectral Comparator (VSC) were used as aids.