Autopsy reveals bruising, slash wounds, and trauma—but cause of death confirmed as oxygen loss due to neck compression

A forensic expert told the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court that six-year-old Zayn Rayyan, reported missing last December, died from strangulation—not drowning or blunt trauma—based on evidence gathered during a post-mortem examination.

Zayn Rayyan, an autistic child, was found dead on December 6, 2023, in a stream near Damansara Damai after being reported missing. His parents are currently on trial for neglect under the Child Act 2001.

On April 8, 2025, forensic pathologist Dr Rohayu Shahar Adnan testified in the Sessions Court that Zayn Rayyan’s cause of death was strangulation, based on her autopsy conducted at Sungai Buloh Hospital on December 7, 2023. Dr Rohayu, who has over two decades of experience in forensic medicine, said the act of strangulation was forceful enough to cut off oxygen to the child’s brain and lungs, resulting in suffocation.

She described visible overlapping marks on the victim’s neck—located 6 cm below both ears—along with internal bruising to the neck muscles and thyroid gland, confirming that external pressure had been applied with a rope-like object. The bruises were not consistent with drowning or suffocation by water.

In her statement, she dismissed the possibility of drowning as the cause of death. Although the palms and soles showed signs of water exposure, there were no classical indicators such as water-filled lungs or thoracic expansion. This confirmed that the boy’s death did not occur by submersion.

Beyond the cause of death, Dr Rohayu revealed extensive signs of recent physical abuse. She identified both blunt and sharp force injuries across the boy’s face, arms, torso, and head. Notably, she reported slash wounds on his ears and the back of his head, along with stab wounds and cuts on the arms.

The post-mortem also found foreign objects in the child’s respiratory tract and stomach, and bruising on the palate, indicating that an object had been forcibly inserted into his mouth. However, these injuries were not fatal. She also confirmed anal injuries caused by the insertion of a blunt object, though these too were not the cause of death.

She stated that the injuries appeared recent, as microscopic examination showed bodily immune responses. There were no signs of internal organ failure, no defensive wounds, and no evidence of punching or kicking.

Zayn’s parents, Zaim Ikhwan Zahari and Ismanira Abdul Manaf, both aged 30, have pleaded not guilty to charges of child neglect. They are accused of neglecting their autistic son between December 5 and 6, 2023, at Damansara Damai. The charges were filed under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, read with Section 34 of the Penal Code. If convicted, the couple faces up to 20 years in prison or a fine of RM50,000—or both.

The trial, presided over by Judge Dr Syahliza Warnoh, continues.

The chilling forensic testimony in the Zayn Rayyan case reveals deliberate and forceful violence against a vulnerable child, sparking national concern over child safety and the role of parental responsibility. The tragic findings are likely to influence future legal standards and public awareness in Malaysia and the broader region, especially among parents and caregivers of children with special needs.

Sources: Malay Mail (2025), Free Malaysia Today (2025)

Keywords: Zayn Rayyan, Strangulation, Child Neglect, Autopsy Report, Blunt Trauma, Forensic Evidence, Malaysian Court