Woman died after she 'poured white spirit over head' and ran into street on fire
A woman died after pouring white spirit on her head and setting herself on fire, an inquest has heard.
Nosheen Akhtar, 31, died on July 23, 2021, after suffering burns outside her home in Bury.
Rochdale Coroner's Court heard Ms Akhtar told paramedics her husband "threw liquid on her" before "setting her on fire," but other witnesses claimed she set herself alight.
Her brother-in-law, Hasnain Mahmood, said Ms Akhtar "wanted to kill herself" and poured a bottle of white spirit over her own head.
Hasnain said he had been talking to his brother Waqas Mahmood and their nephew Murtza Safeer when Ms Akhtar suddenly burst into the room and began accusing her husband of contacting his ex-wife.
Holiday family return to find everything they own - even cat - destroyed in fire
He then told the inquest that he and Mr Safeer left the property to allow the couple to sort out their differences, and was on the phone outside when Waqas Mahmood ran out and shouted that Ms Akhtar was "going to light the house on fire".
Nosheen Akhtar was also known as Sarah Hussein (MEN Media)
Waqas Mahmood (MEN Media)Hasnain said he went into the kitchen and found Ms Kahtar pouring bottle of white spirit over her head, another bottle was already empty on the floor.
She did not have a lighter on her at the time, he said, but was trying to use to gas hob to set fire to herself. Hasnain said this prompted him to take her out into the backyard of the property, talk to her and then convince her to take a bath, which she agreed to.
He added: “I asked her ‘what are you doing?’. She said ‘I want to kill myself. I want to light myself on fire'."
CCTV footage was played to the court that showed Mr Mahmood talking to Ms Akhtar and "pulling" her back inside the house.
Ms Akhtar told paramedics she had been set on fire by her husband (MEN Media)Hasnain said Waqas was watching television while Ms AKhtar went back upstairs and it was then that she tried to set fire to herself with a lighter while in the stairway, forcing Hasnain's wife Ifra Farooq to take it from her.
Hasnain forced her to sit on a chair downstairs then said he left his brother and Ms Akhtar to "sort their stuff out."
After following his wife out into the street, Hasnain said he saw Ms Akhtar pick up another lighter and head towards her husband. He said he 'left them to sort their stuff out' and stepped out of the house, but then heard ‘screaming’.
Members of the family accused Ms Akhtar of not being 'right in the head' (MEN Media)“I’ve come back in and she was in flames,” he added.
Waqas, Hasnain and Murtaz were subsequently arrested by police on suspicion of murder, but later released without charge.
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Hasnain said it "did not cross my mind" to inform police that Ms Akhtar had threatened to kill herself.
Zhara Khan was one of the people who tried to help Ms Akshtar as she ran out into the street on fire.
One witness said the family urged her not to talk to the police (MEN Media)In a recorded interview with police, she said: "They were saying she was not in the right in the head mentally.
"They kept saying she has not done it because of Waqas. They have no problems."
Hasnain describes his brother's relationship with his wife as happy.
Ms Khan then said the family of the Mahmoods made "persistent" phone calls to her family, telling them not to say anything to the authorities.
She added: "I don’t know why they kept trying to make us not say anything and not get involved.
"If he has not done anything, you have nothing to worry about."
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