Malaysian inquest verdict in teen’s death by January

Kuala Lumpur (AFP) – A Malaysian coroner will deliver an inquest verdict by early January over the death of a French-Irish teenager whose body was found in the jungle, a lawyer said Thursday, after hearings concluded.

The body of Nora Quoirin, a 15-year-old with learning difficulties, was discovered unclothed last year after a massive hunt through the rainforest.

Authorities insist there was no foul play but her parents believe she was abducted from the resort where they were staying near Kuala Lumpur, saying the teen would not have wandered off alone.

The final witness wrapped up her testimony Thursday, concluding hearings in the inquest which began in late August.

Coroner Maimoonah Aid has not finalised a date to deliver the verdict but it will be on either December 31 or January 4, the Quoirin family’s lawyer S. Sakthyvell told AFP.

The inquest has heard from over 40 witnesses.

Police insisted that there was no evidence of criminal involvement in the teen’s death and believe that she climbed out of a window of the family’s chalet at the resort on her own.

But her London-based parents testified they heard mysterious noises coming inside the property before their daughter went missing, and criticised the police for a slow and ineffective response.

An autopsy found the teen, whose body was found close to the resort, had probably starved and died of internal bleeding but her family pushed for the inquest.