A fatal act of 'protest' against those he believed were conspiring against him

Yahoo

30-01-2025

A man went to a mental health facility asking for help days before he set himself on fire at a petrol station, an inquest has heard. Afolabi Ojerinde died at Wythenshawe Hospital following the horrific incident at an unstaffed Tesco petrol station in Blackley.
Manchester Coroners' Court heard Mr Ojerinde suffered with a 'psychotic disorder' and held 'delusional beliefs' the government was interfering in his life. The inquest heard those beliefs were reinforced when his benefits were stopped and he was taken to court over rent arrears.
Mr Ojerinde was working with the community mental health team at Hanson Corner in Middleton, the court heard. He went to the facility on August 31, and told staff his Personal Independence Payments (PIP) had been stopped.
The following day, the team agreed to put him on a 'zoning' list of patients to be monitored more closely. His ongoing treatment was discussed at a meeting on September 5 - the day after Mr Ojerinde walked onto the Tesco station forecourt and set himself on fire.
He suffered burns to 93 per cent of his body, the court heard. Area coroner Zak Golombeck said that during the incident, Mr Ojerinde appeared 'calm and measured'. He said Mr Ojerinde intended to 'self immolate'.
Mr Golombeck said Mr Ojerinde's symptoms manifested in a 'conspiracy relating to government or state involvement in his life'. He added: "[He] attended Hanson Corner on August 31, 2023 and at that particular time had expressed concerns over some welfare benefits that he had not received, and as part of his delusional disorder or paranoid schizophrenia had concluded that this was as a result of government intervention in his life."
The court previously heard from consultant psychiatrist Dr Deji Odelola, who said Mr Ojerinde told medical staff: "They will never take me down, I will never kill myself. Never." Dr Odelola suggested Mr Ojerinde may have intended to set himself on fire as a 'final act' against those he believed were conspiring against him.
Giving evidence, the doctor added: "My understanding, I can only speculate, is that Mr Ojerinde had for many years fought against and was determined not to let them win. But at some point I suspect he got to a point where he felt 'I can't win, they won, nothing I do is going to make a difference'."
Mr Golombeck, who recorded a narrative conclusion, said: "I find that he intended to set himself on fire. Most likely as an act of protest of what he perceived to be interference by the government or state."
Mr Ojerinde's cause of of death was given as 'multiple organ failure due to major flame burn injury'. Mr Golombeck said the case did not meet the criteria to be recorded as suicide.
He said he intended to write a Regulation 28 Prevent Future Deaths report highlighting his concerns around safety measures at unstaffed petrol stations.