‘VASANTHA’S DEATH DUE TO SUICIDE’

Evidence shows girl in phone theft case hanged herself, says coroner’s court

THE coroner’s court yesterday ruled that the death of 14-year-old M. Vasanthapiriya was due to suicide from hanging. Coroner Norsalha Hamzah said the court had weighed evidence heard before the court during the inquest proceedings before arriving at the decision. She said there were no criminal elements involved.

“Evidence showed that she hanged herself in a locked room.

“There was no one else in the room with her and no evidence of break-ins.”

She said there were no injuries on the girl’s body and that there were only abrasions on her neck.

She said the post-mortem report concluded that the girl’s cause of death was suicide.

It was reported that the Form Two student of SMK Methodist Nibong Tebal died in Seberang Jaya Hospital following an attempt to hang herself, after she was accused of stealing her teacher’s iPhone in January.

Her death sparked a huge outcry, with her family, relatives and the public demanding that justice be served. An inquest was held to determine the circumstances that led to her death.

Sukhinderpal Singh, who was holding a watching brief on behalf of non-governmental organisation Tamilar Kural Malaysia, said the inquest into Vasanthapiriya’s death raised more questions.

“She died a week after she was found hanging in her room. Some witnesses were not called to testify in the case. The court did not find out how a short girl like her could have threaded a thick swatch of cloth on an air-conditioning pipe that is against the wall, about 2m high. She was found with her feet touching the floor.”