The family of a
London teenager found dead after she disappeared in a Malaysian nature reserve last year is suing the resort for alleged negligence.
Nora Quoirin, a sweet, shy and vulnerable teenager, had been on holiday with her parents and siblings in Dusun in southern Negeri Sembilan state in August last year, when she vanished from their apartment.
Last week the 15-year-old’s parents told HuffPost
UK of their dismay that there would be no further investigation into a death they believe was extremely suspicious and urged the Malaysian government to open an inquest.
Nora went missing on August 4, sparking a massive search operation. Ten days later, her naked body was discovered beside a small stream less than two miles away from the resort, and in an area that had already been searched by the authorities.
An initial post-mortem examination found she had died from gastro-intestinal bleeding and an ulcer, likely brought on by starvation, stress, or both.
police in
Malaysia said they have so far found no evidence of rape, abduction or kidnapping.But Sankara Nair, a lawyer for Nora’s parents Meabh and Sebastien Quoirin, said the family strongly believed Nora was abducted as she has mental and physical disabilities and could not have wandered off on her own.
The lawsuit says a cottage window was found ajar, with its latch broken, on the morning she disappeared.
The resort gate was left open at all times without any security and there was no surveillance camera except for the reception area, the legal papers said.
Nora had poor motor skills and needed help to walk, and her mental age was about five or six years old, her parents said in the claim.
Sankara said outside a court in Negeri Sembilan after a procedural session on the case: “The place was not safe for the child because of the negligence. [...] Anybody could have come in and taken the child.”
Nora’s French-Irish parents are seeking more than 180,000 Malaysian ringgit (£34,000) over losses, bereavement costs and damages for pain and suffering from the resort owner, Helen Marion Todd.
Todd’s lawyers were not immediately available for comment.Sankara said the family has asked Malaysia’s attorney-general to launch an inquest because the post-mortem inquiry would not include what happened to Nora before her death. Police have said a complete post-mortem report will be released soon.
Nora’s parents previously said they were shocked when Malaysian prosecutors classified Nora’s death as requiring “no further action” based on the preliminary coroner’s report, essentially ruling out any inquest. They said the move could prevent justice being done.
In a statement issued by the Lucie Blackman Trust, a charity that helps
British families in crisis overseas, the parents said: “It is crucial to understand how Nora came to be found where she was. As a vulnerable child, with significant physical and mental challenges, we strongly refute any conclusion that Nora was alone for the entire duration of her disappearance.
“We have repeatedly asked the police to clarify answers to our questions in this regard – and we have been repeatedly ignored.”Related... Nora Quoirin's Family Tell Of Fight For Answers Over Her Death In Malaysian Jungle Nora Quoirin: Funeral Takes Place For ‘Gentle, Innocent’ Girl Who Died In Malaysian Jungle Nora Quoirin's Family Demands End To 'Distressing ' Speculation About Daughter's Death Nora Quoirin's Family Insist There Are 'Dark Areas' And More Questions About Her Mysterious Death Post-Mortem Reveals Nora Quoirin Died Of 'Hunger And Stress' Nora Quoirin: French Police Launch Criminal Investigation Into Teenager's Death