Dr Chandroth Navin Pankajakshan, a specialist in forensic medicine at Penang Hospital, said there was an abrasion mark around the girl’s neck measuring 22cm long with a width of 1cm. He said this “parchmented ligature mark” was consistent with hanging.

“At the anterior part of the neck, the mark was located 7cm below the chin and 7cm above the sternal notch (a large, visible dip between the neck and the two collarbones).

“The right side end was located 4.5cm from the mastoid process (the temporal bone behind the ear, to which neck muscles are attached), and the left end was located 4cm from the left mastoid process,” he told coroner Norsalha Hamzah.

Vasanthapiriya, 13, attempted to take her life on Jan 24 after being accused of stealing her teacher’s mobile phone. She died on Feb 1 after being in a coma for nearly a week.

Chandroth said there were also superficial “incision marks” of “various ages” on her left forearm.

Four other abrasion marks were found on her chest, he added.

The inquest was conducted by inquest officers from the prosecutor’s office, Yusaini Amer Abdul Karim and JG Kameni, while Vasanthapiriya’s family lawyers Paramjit Singh and Sukhinderpal Singh held a watching brief.

Lawyer V Parthipan held a watching brief for the teacher.

The inquest continues on July 27.

Student admitted taking phone after seeing video clip, Vasanthapiriya inquest told