'I did not put her on fire', says husband of tragic woman who died from horrific burns

The husband of a woman who died after running into the street on fire denies setting her alight, an inquest has heard.

Nosheen Akhtar, 31, suffered horrific burns after being set on fire at her home in East Street, Bury, on July 23, 2021.

An inquest at Rochdale Coroner’s Court has heard that after running into the street ablaze, Ms Akhtar told paramedics that 'her husband threw liquid on her' before 'setting her on fire'. Other witnesses at the scene have claimed that Ms Akhtar told them she had set herself on fire.

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Giving evidence on Monday, Ms Akhtar’s husband, Waqas Mahmood, said he was not responsible for setting his wife on fire. He told the inquest that Ms Akhtar had set herself alight after a row in which she accused him of speaking to his ex-wife.

The inquest heard that the couple had married in June 2020, less than a month after Mr Mahmood divorced his ex-wife. Mr Mahmood said Ms Akhtar had been recommended to his family and the couple arranged to get married less than a week later.

He did know Ms Akhtar, who was also known as Sarah Hussain, before then and said their marriage was a ‘transaction’, but that they hoped to have children together.

However, he said Ms Akhtar soon became ‘suspicious’ about him remaining in contact with his ex-wife, with whom he had three children, and would regularly check his mobile phone.

“She wanted to catch me out,” Mr Mahmood told the inquest. “I wasn’t doing anything wrong. I wanted information about my children.”

On the evening in question, Mr Mahmood said he was watching television and drinking brandy in his living room when Ms Akhtar entered the room and started swearing at him.