Inquest hears Sydney woman burnt alive 'called an animal'

An inquest has heard a woman who died after being set on fire was planning to leave her husband.

Parwinder Kaur (Supplied) Source: Supplied

An inquest into the death of a Sydney woman who died after being doused in petrol and set alight has heard she was planning to leave her husband, and was optimistic about her future without him, in the days before her death. 

The inquest today heard from Amanpreet Kaur, the wife of Parwinder’s brother, Sukhvinder.

A selfie taken by Parwinder Kaur the day before she died. (Supplied) Source: Supplied

Ms Kaur told the court Parwinder had spoken about plans to leave her husband, in the months before her death.

When asked by Counsel Assisting, Philip Strickland SC, whether she believed Parwinder had doused herself in petrol and set herself on fire, Ms Kaur replied, “No, I cannot believe that.”

“She was a pretty strong woman. She was being optimistic about her life. She was talking about leaving him,” she said.

The court heard evidence Parwinder had suffered poor treatment at the hands of her husband and his parents.

Ms Kaur claimed Parwinder’s mother and father-in-law saw her as uneducated and without class.

A selfie taken by Parwinder Kaur the day before she died. (Supplied) Source: Supplied

They called her “Dangar”, a Punjabi word for a stupid animal and made fun of the way she spoke, Ms Kaur told the court.

The inquest also heard Parwinder had been collecting baby clothes and toys, in the months before her death, and had spoken to her sister-in-law, Amanpreet, about the possibility of adoption. 

The court previously heard Parwinder Kaur made a hushed phone call to emergency services on December 2^nd 2013, telling the operation, "My husband nearly killed me."

Just minutes after that call, neighbours heard a scream, and saw Parwinder running down the driveway in ball of fire, with two black plumes of smoke trailing behind her.

Evidence shown during the inquest into the death of Sydney woman Parwinder Kaur. Source: AAP

Neighbours saw Parwinders husband, Kulwinder Singh running after her, apparently patting her.

Mr Singh told police he had tried to put out the flames and that his wife set herself alight after he told her he was leaving her.

No one else was home at the time of the incident, and no one has been charged over her death.

The inquest continues. 

*National domestic violence helpline: 1800 737 732 or 1800-RESPECT. In an emergency call triple-zero.