KOTA KINABALU: The prosecution has closed its case against five teenage girls who were charged with using insulting words against Zara Qairina Mahathir.
Lawyer Joan Goh, who represents one of the teenagers, said the Court for Children had fixed Nov 16 for written submissions and Nov 30 for replies.
The court also fixed Dec 4 for clarification, after which it would set a date to rule on whether the prosecution had established a prima facie case.
Goh said more than 20 witnesses had testified during the trial, although not all the child witnesses who gave evidence at the inquest into Zara Qairina's death were called to testify.
Zara Qairina's mother was also not called to testify during the trial.
The five teenagers, who cannot be identified because they are minors and are simply known as Students A, B, C, D and E, were charged on Aug 20, 2025, under Section 507C(1) of the Penal Code with using insulting words against Zara Qairina, 13, causing her distress.
They were alleged to have done so between 10pm and 11pm on July 15, 2025.
All five pleaded not guilty.
The offence carries a maximum prison sentence of a year, a fine or both upon conviction.
Zara Qairina was found unconscious on the ground floor of her school hostel building on July 16, 2025, and was pronounced dead at Queen Elizabeth Hospital the following day.
Goh, together with lawyers Datuk Ram Singh and Elmer Prem Gunasan, represented one of the teenagers.
The other four were represented by lawyers Azhier Farhan Arisin, Abdul Fikry Jaafar, Mohammed Fareez Mohammed Salleh and Sylyester Kuan.
All the counsels for the five teenagers acted on a pro-bono basis.
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