KOTA KINABALU, Oct. 9 -- The mother of the late Zara Qairina Mahathir does not believe that her only child jumped from the third floor of the school building, saying the teenager was cheerful, strong and not one to give up easily despite facing provocation.

Noraidah Lamat, 46, said this when questioned by lawyer Datuk Ram Singh, who represents one of the teenagers charged in connection with the bullying case involving Zara Qairina, during the inquest into the teenager's death at the Coroner's Court here today.

Ram referred to expert testimony given during earlier proceedings in the inquest which, he said, indicated that Zara Qairina had not been pushed and that there was a possibility she had jumped voluntarily.

Noraidah said she did n...