Sarah Hussain: Bury woman did not commit suicide, coroner rules

On July 23, 2021, Sarah Hussain came running out of her house on East Street, Bury, engulfed in flames, with her clothes having been soaked in white spirits.

In the chaos that followed, neighbours extinguished the fire, but the damage had already been done. She died the following day at Wythenshawe Hospital.

People present inside the house said that she had set herself on fire, while she told paramedics that her husband, Waqas Mahmood, had set her alight.

Murder arrests followed for Mr Mahmood, his brother, Hasnain, and Murtza Safeer, who were all present at the house on the day, but were dropped soon afterwards.

An inquest opened weeks after Sarah died, but after multiple postponements, it was concluded on Friday, September 6.

Evidence had been heard on previous occasions by a range of witnesses, including those present in the house, neighbours who helped her, police officers, paramedics and hospital staff.

Coroner Lisa Judge gave her conclusion on the cause of the death, summarising evidence heard over the course of the inquest.

The coroner highlighted testimony from multiple paramedics and hospital staff, who all described Sarah telling them that her husband had "done it". She said that their evidence was reliable.

Fire expert Emma Wilson’s evidence was also touched on. She said that the ignition point had been the “back of Sarah’s tunic”.

She said a “more likely” scenario for self-immolation would be to set fire to the front of the tunic, with someone setting fire to the rear of their own clothes “requiring dexterity”.

Ms Judge also addressed the evidence of witnesses who had been in the house on the day.

Turning to the evidence of Waqqas Mahmood, Sarah’s husband, Ms Judge said: “When the evidence of the fire expert was put to him, he denied it and said it would have been easier for her to light herself from behind than him to lean over her.

“He was seen wandering away from the house when his wife was dying on the pavement and said she was in safe hands with the neighbours.

Sarah Hussain (Image: Family handout)

“Overall, I find this witness wholly unreliable. His recollection is minimal, fractured and inconsistent with others.

“His actions show a wholesale lack of care for his wife and went further – an absolute disregard for her wellbeing.”

Addressing Husnain Mahmood, she said: “There are many occasions where what he said simply can’t be true.

“He exaggerates knowledge which is repeatedly inconsistent with other witnesses.”

She referred to him “not wanting Waqqas” to speak to paramedics and being “on his phone” and “uninterested in the wellbeing of his sister-in-law” during the incident.

She added: “His exaggeration could not possibly have had a foundation in sincerity. There is only one answer, a sinister one, crushing any credibility he has.”

The coroner gave an open conclusion into Sarah’s death.

She said: “The evidence I have heard and my findings made do not allow me to decide on any conclusion other than an open conclusion attaches to this case.

“I have not concluded suicide. What that means is, on the balance of probabilities, I did not find that she had committed suicide. That being had set herself alright with the intention of ending her own life.

“But if she didn’t kill herself, who did? It is that answer I am unable to provide on the balance of probabilities. That is why I am bound to return an open conclusion.”

Delivering her ruling, Ms Judge said: "On July 23, 2021, whilst at her home address on East Street, Bury, Sarah Hussain's clothing became impregnated with white spirits and subsequently was ignited resulting in her becoming engulfed in flames and running from the house where she was ably assisted by others who also summonsed the emergency services.

"She received emergency treatment but the burns she sustained were incompatible with life and she succumbed to those injuries on July 24 at Wythenshawe Hospital.

"Whilst on the balance of probabilities I am unable to return anything other than an open conclusion, I have found that Sarah Hussain did not set herself alight with the intention of ending her own life."