A child psychologist tells the Coroner’s Court that Zara Qairina’s overall profile does not support a conclusion of suicidal intent based on available data
KOTA KINABALU: The Coroner’s Court here was told that Zara Qairina Mahathir was not a child who consistently displayed signs of severe depression, social withdrawal, hopelessness, or suicidal intent.
Child Psychologist Dr Noor Aishah Rosli, 51, who is also a registered counsellor, said these findings were based on an overall assessment of Zara Qairina’s developmental profile from birth up to the age of 13.
Drawing on data analysed for her psychological autopsy report, Dr Noor Aishah, who has some 18 years of experience in clinical child psychology, said there was no clear history of suicide attempts in the teenager’s life before she was found unconscious in her dormitory building on July 16 last year.
“In the context of psychological theories related to suicide risk, including the interpersonal model, the assessment must consider whether there is a sense of not being accepted, a feeling of being a burden, the capability to inflict serious self-harm, as well as a combination of acute factors that converge to create risk.
“In Zara’s case, the available data does not strongly indicate that all of these elements were consistently and dominantly present before the incident,” she said while reading her witness statement before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan during the inquest proceedings into the teenager’s death today
The 76th witness said the Psychological Autopsy approach was used to prepare Zara Qairina’s psychological autopsy profile, a retrospective assessment method in forensic psychology aimed at understanding an individual’s mental, emotional, social, behavioural, interpersonal, environmental, and psychological state prior to death.
Dr Noor Aishah explained that the profile was constructed to assess whether, from a psychological standpoint, there was a solid foundation to support the notion that the teenager had the inclination, intent, or psychological state consistent with taking her own life.
“I also evaluated whether there were psychological, social, family, school environment, peer relationship, hostel experience, personal writings, phone communications and witness information factors that could help the Court understand the full context of Zara’s life before the incident,” she said.
She said the materials examined included documents related to Zara Qairina’s life, such as photographs, videos, diaries, personal notes, school documents, psychological or psychiatric reports, handwriting analysis reports, forensic document reports, as well as transcripts of phone conversations between the teenager and her mother, Noraidah Lamat.
She added that interviews were also conducted with individuals who had direct knowledge or close relationships with Zara Qairina, including her mother, family members, caregivers, neighbours, primary and secondary school friends, teachers and warden
Dr Noor Aishah said a psychological profile of Noraidah was also developed, as she was the person closest to Zara Qairina throughout her life, possessing deep knowledge of the teenager’s cognitive, emotional, social and behavioural development, as well as her interests, daily routines, and life experiences.
In the psychologist’s view, the available data points more towards the need for a careful examination of the external, situational and interpersonal factors unfolding in Zara’s school and hostel environment before the incident, rather than jumping to the simplistic conclusion that her death stemmed solely from family conflict or internal psychological struggles.
She also believed that Zara’s relationship with her mother should not be viewed in isolation as the primary factor. On the contrary, the overall dynamic was largely characterised by attachment, affection, emotional support and open communication.
“In my assessment, it would be inaccurate to draw psychological conclusions based on a single category of material, such as specific writings, without integrating the full range of developmental data, interviews, call transcripts, witness observations, school and family history, protective factors and situational elements close to the time of the incident.
“My professional conclusion is that Zara’s overall psychological profile paints the picture of a cheerful, sociable, active, loving, generous, and motivated child and young adolescent, one with aspirations and a close bond with her mother.
“Although Zara displayed social sensitivity and faced typical adolescent challenges, such as peer conflicts, friendship jealousy, hostel pressures, and some situational maladaptive behaviours, these factors alone are insufficient to support the conclusion that she had a stable or planned intent to take her own life,” she said.
Zara Qairina, 13, died on July 17 at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where she had been admitted a day earlier after being found unconscious near a drain at her school hostel in Papar at 4 am.
The Attorney-General’s Chambers ordered her remains exhumed for a post-mortem on Aug 8, before announcing a formal inquest into her death on Aug 13.
The proceedings before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan will resume this afternoon.
