Why did the coroner walk out of the Zara Qairina inquest?

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The Coroner Left the Inquest Proceedings Due to Perceived Challenges to His Fairness

Coroner Judge Amir Shah Amir Hassan temporarily left the bench during the Zara Qairina Mahathir inquest after questioning his own impartiality during the examination of a consultant psychiatrist. The judge expressed his sentiment by twice asking, "Am I not fair enough?" before pausing the proceedings for approximately 50 minutes.
Perceived Harshness in Questioning Prompted Judicial Intervention

The tense exchange occurred while Datuk Ram Singh, representing one of the teenagers accused in the bullying case, was questioning consultant psychiatrist Dr Wong Haw Huo. Ram had repeatedly pressed Dr Wong for direct answers regarding the cause of Zara Qairina's fall and whether she was alone prior to the incident. Datuk Rizwandean M. Borhan, counsel for Zara Qairina’s mother, commented that Ram's line of questioning appeared harsh, which Ram countered by emphasizing the importance of the questions and noting that other counsel had also been perceived as harsh in past proceedings.
Disagreement Over Questioning Style Led to Judge's Departure

Judge Amir Shah intervened in the exchange between the lawyers, reminding them that the proceeding was an inquest, not a trial. When Ram requested fairness, the judge directly asked, "Am I not fair? Am I not fair enough?" Ram's reply that the psychiatrist was "going round and round and explaining" seemed to escalate the situation, leading the judge to stand and leave the bench.
Apologies Were Tendered and Accepted Following the Pause

Following the approximately 50-minute suspension, Ram apologised to the court, clarifying that his remarks were not intended to question the fairness of the inquest proceedings and expressing shock at the coroner's departure. Rizwandean also offered an apology. Judge Amir Shah accepted these apologies, reminding all counsel to maintain professionalism and caution throughout the inquest. He also apologised for his own actions, stating it was the first time in his 21 years of service that he had walked out from the bench, citing a "little pain in my chest" and reiterating that professionalism was the primary objective of the inquest.

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Why did the coroner walk out of the Zara Qairina inquest?

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