PETALING JAYA: A clinical psychologist today told the Sessions Court that Ismanira Abdul Manaf had intended no ill when she sent a Whatsapp message to her husband saying she wanted to beat up her autistic children because she was frustrated and angered.

Dr Noor Aishah Rosli, 49, the fifth defence witness in the child neglect trial involving 30-year-old Ismanira, said the mother was expressing her emotions to her husband, Zaim Ikhwan Zahari.

"But she did not do anything, she was not rough with the children.

"These statements are normal from a mother who takes care of two autistic children.

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"From a psychological point of view, we cannot take these sentences as intention to commit crime.

"But here, this is her outburst of emotions and she just wants it let out it via a message to her husband. She loves her children," she said during examination-in-chief by defence lawyer Haresh Mahadevan.

The couple were charged with negligence following the death of their 6-year-old autistic son, Zayn Rayyan, in 2023. However, only Ismanira was ordered to enter her defence.

Noor Aishah said Ismanira felt guilty and did not have bad intentions when she said she did not care if Zayn was alive or not after he went missing on Dec 5, 2023.

She said Ismanira searched everywhere for Zayn, which showed her concern for her eldest child and felt nervous and quickly told Zaim about the disappearance.

"Although sometimes she complains, it is normal for a human.

"However, when Zayn was not with her, she panicked and had quickly contacted the person she trusts and could rely on, which was her husband," she said.

On another message, that Ismanira wanted to kill herself, Noor Aishah said the mother did not mean it and had merely said it due to the fatigue of handling two autistic children.

"It is normal to talk like that between a husband and wife. People talk that way to get attention and affection.

"Strong words are used to alert their spouse that they are tired and they need help," she said.

Haresh had also asked Noor Aishah on why she said the act of Zayn walking behind Ismanira cannot be said as neglect, according to the American Psychological Association and World Health Organisation.

She said there are no regulations on children, whether the child is disabled or normal, for them to be in front of their parents when walking or going up the stairs or running.

"Therefore, with what had happened to Zayn and Ismanira, that is not a form of neglect because it was only a few seconds he was at the back before he disappeared.

"Like I said yesterday, the definition of neglect needs to be seen in totality. Her behaviour with Zayn from when he was born to the day it happened, all was well.

"It was only on that day, Zayn was at the back of her and went missing. That cannot be said as neglect.

"Moreover, there is no professional body in the world that defines that the position where when the mother is walking in front while the child at the back as neglect. None."

Cross examined by deputy public prosecutor Aqharie Durranie Aziz, Noor Aishah disagreed when it was put to her that the best method to make an assessment was to meet a patient personally to enable a conclusive finding.

She said she did not go to the scene where Zayn had gone missing and it sufficed to see pictures of the location.

The defence then closed its case after calling five witnesses, with Noor Aishah being the last.

The prosecution called 29 witnesses, including a rebuttal witness Azura Mohd Nawawi, who today testified on a video of Ismanira, Zayn as well as his younger brother walking down the stairs from their apartment block.

Ismanira is accused of neglect committed between 12pm on Dec 5 and 9.55pm on Dec 6, 2023 around the area between Block R, Apartment Idaman, Damansara Damai and a nearby stream. 

Zayn was reported missing from the block on Dec 5, 2023 after Ismanira picked him up from school at 12.30pm. 

His body was found a day later in the stream, about 200m from his home. 

The prosecution included deputy public prosecutors Raja Zaizul Faridah Raja Zaharudin and Nur Sabrina Zubairi. 

Also on the defence were lawyers Ramzani Idris and Lavanesh Haresh.