Coroner Judge Amir Shah Amir Hassan abruptly left the courtroom during the inquest into Zara Qairina Mahathir’s death after asking, Am I not fair enough?
twice, sparking a 50-minute pause and mutual apologies from legal representatives. The incident occurred as consultant psychiatrist Dr Wong Haw Huo, the 75th witness, testified about the teenager’s mental state before her 2025 death.
The dramatic exit by Judge Amir Shah Amir Hassan during the inquest into Zara Qairina Mahathir’s death underscored the high stakes of the proceedings, which seek to unravel the circumstances surrounding the 13-year-old’s fatal fall. The coroner’s abrupt departure followed a tense exchange with Datuk Ram Singh, counsel for one of the teenagers charged in the bullying case involving Zara Qairina, as Wong, the 75th witness, was questioned about the cause of Zara’s fall and her mental state prior to the incident.
A Coroner’s Outburst and the Strain on Legal Proceedings
Coroner walks out during Zara Qairina inquest after saying
The confrontation unfolded on August 26, 2026, as Ram repeatedly pressed Wong for direct answers about Zara’s final moments. Datuk Rizwandean M. Let’s be fair to us.
The exchange escalated when the coroner, after repeated assertions of fairness, asked, Am I not fair enough?
twice. Ram replied, You are fair, Sir,
before the judge abruptly left the bench. The court paused for 50 minutes before resuming, with Ram and Rizwandean apologizing for any misinterpretation of the coroner’s conduct. Judge Amir Shah later admitted it was the first time in his 21-year career he “burst out” and left the bench, citing a little pain in my chest.
Psychiatric Testimony and the Search for Clarity
Wong’s testimony centered on the importance of interviewing the last student known to have interacted with Zara before her fall, emphasizing that such interactions could clarify her mental state. Interviewing the student would have enabled psychiatrists to better understand Zara’s conversation, appearance, speech, behavior, and emotional condition, Wong stated. This evidence, he argued, was critical to determining whether her actions were influenced by acute distress or pre-existing mental health issues.
Zara inquest: "Am I not fair enough?" judge walks
The inquest has also grappled with conflicting narratives about Zara’s state of mind.
Broader Implications for the Inquest and Institutional Accountability
Source 5 notes that five students have been charged in relation to the case, with allegations of severe verbal and psychological abuse.
Inquest into Zara Qairina's death briefly halted after tense
Zara Qairina Mahathir died at Queen Elizabeth Hospital on July 17, 2025, a day after she was found unconscious in a drain near her school hostel at about 4 am. The inquest has become a focal point for scrutiny of Malaysia’s educational oversight and juvenile justice systems. The coroner’s dramatic exit, while unprecedented, underscores the intense pressure on all parties involved to balance legal rigor with compassion. With the court resuming its proceedings, the next steps will likely hinge on the testimony of the last student known to have interacted with Zara, whose account could prove pivotal in determining the full story behind her death.
Legal representatives have emphasized the need for transparency in the investigation. Datuk Ram Singh, during his cross-examination of Wong, insisted that the questioning was necessary to “be fair to us,” while Datuk Rizwandean M. Borhan criticized the approach as “harsh.” The coroner’s repeated inquiries about his fairness reflected the high emotional stakes of the proceedings, which have been described as “exhaustive” in Source 5.
The coroner’s departure, however, highlighted the fragility of the process, as legal teams and the court navigated the competing demands of justice and empathy.
As the inquest continues, the focus remains on reconstructing Zara’s final hours and holding institutions accountable for her death. The coroner’s dramatic exit, while unprecedented, underscores the intense pressure on all parties involved to balance legal rigor with compassion. With the court resuming its proceedings, the next steps will likely hinge on the testimony of the last student known to have interacted with Zara, whose account could prove pivotal in determining the full story behind her death.
