{
  "id": 14907296,
  "title": "Lawyers urge public to avoid speculation as Zara Qairina inquest heads to January ruling",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/lawyers-urge-public-to-avoid-speculation-as-zara-qairina-inquest-14907296",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-16T07:57:35.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/10/16/lawyers-urge-public-to-avoid-speculation-as-zara-qairina-inquest-heads-to-january-ruling/239342"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KOTA KINABALU, Oct 16 — Attorneys representing involved parties in the Zara Qairina inquest have called upon the public to avoid jumping to conclusions and allow the judicial process to unfold as planned after the conclusion of witness testimonies. Joan Goh, representing a teenager implicated in the bullying case, expressed her desire for comprehensive consideration of the evidence presented throughout the inquest. Goh emphasized the importance of adhering to evidence and the rule of law, rather than public sentiment or conjecture. She also highlighted the need to protect the rights, welfare, and future prospects of the children affected by the tragedy, urging everyone to respect the legal process and enabling them to move forward in their lives. \"The pursuit of justice for Zara must not overshadow justice for others,\" Goh stated. Meanwhile, Shahlan Jufri, counsel for Zara Qairina’s mother, mentioned several matters to be addressed in their written submissions, due by December 15. He noted the coroner's request for all parties to help identify inconsistencies in witness testimonies and evidence, as well as feedback on the school visit. Shahlan promised his team would meticulously review 350 documentary exhibits and over 5,000 pages of notes accumulated over the 96-day inquest before submitting their arguments. \"We hope the court's final decision will be fair to all parties,\" he affirmed. The Coroner's Court set January 15, 2026, as the date for delivering its findings on Zara Qairina's death, following 96 days of proceedings. The hearings concluded on Wednesday, after 83 witnesses testified, including experts, children, teachers, and family members. The inquest commenced on September 13, 2024, with Dr Jessie Hiu from Queen Elizabeth Hospital forensic pathologist as the initial witness and investigating officer Insp Wong Yew Zhung as the final speaker. The Attorney-General's Chambers announced an inquest into Zara Qairina's death on August 13, 2025, following a police investigation report review. The exhumation of Zara Qairina's remains took place at Tanjung Ubi Muslim Cemetery on August 9, 2025, and was completed promptly to enable a post-mortem examination. Zara Qairina passed away at Queen Elizabeth Hospital on July 17, 2025, just a day after being found unconscious near a drain at her school hostel.",
  "summary": "KOTA KINABALU, Oct 16 — Lawyers involved in the inquest into the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir have urged the pub...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "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",
        "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"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Vibes",
        "title": "Zara Qairina inquest verdict set for Jan 15",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/zara-qairina-inquest-verdict-set-for-jan-15",
        "published": "2026-10-16T06:04:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}