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AAP
AAP
National
Laine Clark

Cop shooting of burning man to be probed

Police shot dead a man who set himself on fire and ran at officers, a coroner has heard. (AAP)

A man shot dead by Queensland police set himself on fire and ran at officers after dousing a woman in petrol, a Coroners Court has been told.

Omid Molayee was engulfed in flames when shot twice in a McDonald's car park in Brisbane's south in April 2020 after police responded to reports of a domestic violence incident, a pre-inquest conference on Monday heard.

The death of the 43-year-old - who was allowed to stay in Australia on a protection visa after arriving from Iran via boat in 2011 - will be the subject of an inquest in December.

Molayee indicated he would end his relationship of several months with his partner after accusing her of cheating on him, counsel assisting Rhiannon Helsen said.

The next day he demanded his partner swear on the Koran that she was faithful but instead she told him it was over and asked him to leave Queensland as soon as the state borders reopened amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

That evening Molayee - who had relocated from South Australia for the relationship - asked her to reconsider.

When she declined Molayee locked their bedroom door and poured petrol on himself, his partner and the carpet and said that he would set them on fire, Ms Helsen said.

Police were called after she escaped the bedroom and alerted her oldest son who also lived at the house along with her two other children.

Molayee fled but was located about an hour later by police in the Sunnybank McDonald's car park, sitting in his vehicle.

Ms Helsen said when approached by officers, Molayee told them to "back off" while holding a fuel can in one hand and a lighter in the other.

Police tried to negotiate but Molayee poured more petrol on himself in the car and tried to set himself alight.

Officers attempted to break the driver's window but were forced back after the car erupted in flames and their attempts to extinguish them failed.

Molayee then emerged completely engulfed in flames and appeared to run at police.

"It seems that the general consensus from police at the scene responding to this incident was that Mr Molayee was running at police intentionally in order to inflict harm," Ms Helsen said.

After "non-lethal force" proved ineffective, an officer discharged four rounds and Molayee was shot twice in the chest.

He was extinguished and police attempted first aid but Molayee died a short time later.

A police investigation found "the use of lethal force was able to be justified and was proportionate and tactically sound given the threat posed", and that officers had complied with policy and procedure, Ms Helsen said.

The inquest will consider the circumstances leading up to Molayee's shooting, whether officers acted appropriately by using lethal force, whether their training was sufficient and whether the incident's investigation was adequate.

It is expected to be held over five days from December 5 before coroner Terry Ryan.

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