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‘Mirna would be alive’ if Jessica didn’t return to Indonesia
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Murder suspect Jessica Kumala Wongso (left) enters the courtroom to stand trial for the murder of her friend Wayan Mirna Salihin. (Antara Foto/Rivan Awal Linnga)
P
sychiatrist Natalia Widiasih Raharjanti said that defendant Jessica Kumala Wongso had expressed regret at returning to Indonesia, saying that her friend Wayan Mirna Salihin would not have died if she had stayed away.
The psychiatrist was testifying at the Central Jakarta District Court Thursday, reporting the result of her examination of Jessica, the defendant in the murder case of Mirna, who died in January this year after drinking coffee in a restaurant in Central Jakarta.
"When the psychiatric team examined her, we asked her what made her feel guilty. She said, 'If I had not come to Indonesia, Mirna wouldn't have died," Natalia recalled her conversation with Jessica during her examination at Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital (RSCM) in February.
When she asked Jessica to elaborate, she only said the incident would not happen if she did not leave Australia and return to Indonesia in December last year, Natalia said.
Meanwhile, Natalia said a lie detector test was not done during Jessica’s examination because such tests were not always accurate, explaining that a person who was innately calm would easily pass a lie detector test. The team instead conducted psychological tests and consultations.
Natalia said Jessica was not always calm. When Jessica faced an unexpected situation, for example when she was given a math test, Jessica seemed very upset. When her detention period was extended a couple of times, she seemed depressed by the situation, Natalia said. (evi)
