Autopsy Reveals Zayn Rayyan Was Physically Abused & Strangled To Death
"There were laceration and abrasion wounds around the anus due to the insertion of a blunt object," said the doctor who performed the autopsy.
Cover image via 6-year-old Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matiin died from ligature strangulation and showed multiple signs of physical abuse, including cuts on his ears and injuries to his anus, a forensic pathologist testified today, 8 April
Dr Rohayu Shahar Adnan, a forensic medicine consultant who performed the autopsy on Zayn Rayyan at Hospital Sungai Buloh on 7 December 2023, told the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court that the injuries were consistent with perimortem trauma — meaning they were sustained around the time of death, reported Berita Harian.
Zayn, who was autistic, was found dead in a stream near his home at Apartment Idaman in Damansara Damai. At the time of the post-mortem, he was still dressed in his school uniform and disposable diapers.
"There were overlapping strangulation marks, 6cm below both ears.
"The bruising on his neck muscles and thyroid glands showed the force was enough to cut off oxygen supply to the brain and lungs," said Dr Rohayu, who is now based at Hospital Pasir Gudang, Johor.
She said the injuries were consistent with ligature strangulation — involving an object such as a rope, lanyard, or twisted cloth — and ruled out drowning as the cause of death, reported the New Straits Times.
While the bruises and cuts did not directly cause death, they were clear evidence of physical abuse, according to the pathologist
She said that among the injuries were bruises on Zayn's forehead, lips, back of the head, neck, chest, and abdomen, as well as swelling on both eyes. There were also sharp trauma wounds — including incisions on his ears and stab wounds extending from behind the ear to the back of the head.
"There were laceration and abrasion wounds around the anus due to the insertion of a blunt object. However, these injuries were not fatal," she added.
Dr Rohayu also found foreign objects in the boy's right airway and stomach. The bruising on the child's palate suggested that something had been forcefully shoved into his mouth, but there was no sign of choking.
Signs of decomposition — such as bloating and greenish discolouration — led her to estimate that Zayn had been dead for more than 24 hours, possibly up to 48 hours, at the time of the autopsy.
No serious internal organ damage or underlying disease was found.
Image via Harian Metro
Zayn's parents, Zaim Ikhwan Zahari and Ismanira Abdul Manaf, both 30, have been charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 for neglecting their son in a manner likely to cause him physical injury
The charge carries a penalty of up to 20 years in jail, a RM50,000 fine, or both.
They are accused of committing the offence between noon on 5 December and 9.55pm on 6 December 2023, in the vicinity of Block R in Apartment Idaman and the nearby stream.
Zaim Ikhwan Zahari (in a wheelchair) and his wife, Ismanira Abdul Manaf, were present at the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court for the trial related to the neglect case involving 6-year-old Zayn Rayyan.
Image via Hazreen Mohamad/New Straits Times
