A woman who passed away after suffering severe burns told paramedics 'her husband threw liquid on her' before 'setting her on fire', an inquest has heard. Nosheen Akhtar, 31 died in hospital after she ran outside her home in East Street, Bury on July 23 2021 engulfed in flames as horrified neighbours tried to help.
The inquest at Rochdale Coroner's Court heard on Monday that Ms Akhtar told a paramedic: ''My husband, he did it", the Manchester Evening News reports. Amy Bradburn said that a colleague had earlier informed her that the 31-year-old had 'poured petrol on herself' causing 'extensive burns' and said her face 'looked as though it had been melted'.
Ms Bradburn's colleague, Duncan Mayoh, said that Ms Ahktar was 'screaming in agony for us to help her' while they gave her a high dose of morphine. She told emergency workers in the ambulance that 'her husband, Waqas Mahmood had thrown liquid on her and set her on fire' but did not appear 'confused' when she made the claim.
While the victim was rushed to Wythenshawe Hospital, Mr Mahmood suffered several blister burns on his hand and was attended to at the scene. Paramedic Dominic Wilson who treated his injuries said the husband appeared 'worked up' but was 'co-operative'.
He told the inquest: "I asked what had happened and he explained that his wife had poured white spirit on herself and set fire to herself. She came into the living room on fire and he set about trying to extinguish the flames using cushions, towels and blankets then picked her up and took her out of the house."
However, the inquest was told that CCTV footage showed Ms Akhtar running out the property in flames. Mr Mahmood and his brother, Hasnain Mahmood followed as they were both seen using pillows to try and put the fire out.
Investigators who visited the couple's home later found two open bottles containing an accelerant while a lighter was found on the living room floor. Fire investigator Emma Wilson who examined the scene said tests showed the accelerant was likely to have been poured over Ms Akhtar before the back of her tunic was set alight.
She detailed that damage to a sofa and a throw in the living room implied that the woman was standing up when her clothing was set on fire before sitting down for a 'matter of seconds'. She concluded that either Ms Akhtar or Mr Mahmood could potentially have set the clothing alight but that the victim would have had to 'reach around' in order to do it herself.
She added: "It would seem more likely that the wearer would ignite it in an accessible location. It's less likely she would reach around to ignite it at the rear."
A post-mortem examination after Ms Akhtar's death found that she had suffered 'widespread burns to her body'. In a statement read out to the court, pathologist Dr Philip Lumb concluded that her cause of death was down to 'burns and inhalation of the products of combustion'.
The inquest also heard that in the months prior to her death, Ms Akhta,r who grew up in Pakistan, had spoken to family and health professionals regarding issues in her marriage with Mr Mahmood. Zaheera Bibi, Ms Akhtar's mother, said her daughter told her she and Mr Mahmood regularly argued and she would 'ring and cry on the phone' because she was 'fed up' of her husband visiting his ex-wife.
Following a family visit to Pakistan in 2020, Ms Bibi said Ms Akhtar was crying and 'seemed worried' about returning home to the UK. She added: "She wanted to make her marriage successful and she wanted to do whatever she could do to save her marriage".
The inquest also heard that in February 2021, Ms Akhtar was taken to hospital after taking an overdose. She told medics she had done it after Mr Mahmood threatened to leave her during an argument.
Dr Afzal Hussain, Ms Akhtar's GP, told the inquest that Ms Akhtar had told him in an appointment that she had taken the overdose 'in frustration' and accused Mr Mahmood of 'neglecting and ignoring' her. He added: "The majority of her issues were related to her husband still seeing his ex-wife and children on an almost daily basis."
Ms Bibi spoke with her daughter over the phone on the day of the horrific incident and said she seemed 'in a happy mood' and did not believe 'she would have set fire to herself'. In a statement read out in court, Ms Akhtar's family said she was 'brave' and 'good-natured' but that she 'kept a lot from the family'.
They continued:"Nosheen did not want to show the family that she was stressed. She was very nice. She used to take care of us like a mother.
"She had a good nature and used to think of us all while living in the UK. She used to get worried for others and always wanted wanted to do something for them."
The inquest which is due to last seven days will continue tomorrow.
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