Man sets himself alight at police station
21 January 2015 18:48
A man has died after
setting himself alight in a car at the Tlhabane police station, North West.
“Police in Tlhabane are
investigating a case of malicious damage to property after a 35-year-old man died
when he allegedly attempted to commit suicide by setting fire to his estranged
wife’s vehicle yesterday,” Brigadier ThulaniNgubane said today.
The man, who allegedly
argued with his estranged wife earlier in the day, followed her to the police
station where she wanted to lay a charge of malicious damage to property
against him. This was after he threw her cellphone to the floor, damaging it.
“As he arrived at the
parking in front of the police station gate, he allegedly poured petrol all
over the vehicle he was driving.”
He bumped the car against a
police vehicle while trying to park next to it.
The man refused to get out
of the car when police officers asked him to, and set it alight.
“Police responded
immediately as they were next to the vehicle and rescued the deceased without
visible injuries,” said Ngubane.
He refused treatment from
paramedics who were called to the scene and was arrested. He started vomiting
later in the day and died at the station.
A post mortem would be done
to determine the cause of his death. The Independent Police Investigative
Directorate would probe the matter.
- Sapa
