{
  "id": 14855173,
  "title": "Court to decide on inquest into Zara’s death on Jan 15",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/court-to-decide-on-inquest-into-zaras-death-on-jan-15",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-16T02:45:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/10/16/court-to-decide-on-inquest-into-zara-s-death-on-jan-15"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Kota Kinabalu coroner's court has scheduled January 15, 2026, to announce its verdict on the inquest into the tragic death of Zara Qairina Mahathir in July 2025. Coroner Amir Shah Amir announced the date after engaging with the parties involved and requesting their written submissions by December 15, 2025. The inquest concluded after 96 days of proceedings, as reported by Sinar Harian.\n\nZara's life ended at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu on July 17, 2025, just a day after she was discovered unconscious near a drain in her school dormitory at Papar. Her remains were exhumed on August 9, 2025, and a post-mortem examination was carried out at the hospital's forensic medicine department on August 10, 2025.\n\nIn connection to Zara's death, five minors, identified as Students A, B, C, D, and E, were charged in the Kota Kinabalu children's court on August 20, 2025. They face accusations of verbally abusing Zara.",
  "summary": "Kota Kinabalu coroner's court asks parties to file their written submissions by Dec 15.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Court sets Jan 15 for Zara Qairina inquest verdict",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/court-sets-jan-15-for-zara-qairina-inquest-verdict",
        "published": "2026-10-16T02:22:09.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Court to decide on inquest into Zara’s death on Jan 15",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/court-to-decide-on-inquest-into-zaras-death-on-jan-15-14857832",
        "published": "2026-10-16T02:45:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Coroner’s Court sets Jan 15, 2027 for verdict in Zara Qairina inquest",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/coroners-court-sets-jan-15-2027-for-verdict-in-zara-qairina-inquest",
        "published": "2026-10-16T03:42:15.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}