Malaysian court rejects coroner's verdict in teen's death

A Malaysian high court says a coroner erred in ruling that the death of a French-Irish teenager whose body was found near a jungle resort was likely due to a misadventure that didn't involve other people

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- A Malaysian high court found Wednesday that a coroner erred in ruling that the death of a French-Irish teenager whose body was found near a jungle resort was likely due to a misadventure that didn't involve other people. High Court Judge Azizul Azmi Adnan agreed with Nora Anne Quoirin's parents that it would not have been likely for the 15-year-old to venture out on her own, navigate the steep terrain and evade detection for days due to her mental and physical disabilities. He ruled that “the verdict of misadventure ought to be vacated in the interest of justice and substituted with an open verdict," which would mean there was suspicion of foul play but inadequate proof. The ruling is a legal victory for Nora Anne's parents, who believe she was likely kidnapped and had appealed the coroner’s verdict, issued in January. They listened to the online verdict from their home in London.