KOTA KINABALU, Oct. 13 -- A student witness told the inquest that 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir was alone in the dormitory toilet after being confronted and scolded by senior students, some hours before her fatal fall.

Counsel Rizwandean M Borhan told reporters that the Form Four witness said Zara Qairina had been called to another dormitory by a group of senior students to be questioned over some stolen items after which some harsh words were uttered.

"The witness said she heard from other students that night that Zara Qairina had locked herself in the bathroom, but she said she didn't know what time that happened.

"At around 3.50am, the witness was awakened by a friend who informed her that a student had been found unconscious an...