A tragic incident unfolded in March 2022 when Jasmine Thomas died in a car fire alongside her two young daughters, Evlyn and Carolyn James, in Cranbourne West, Melbourne. CCTV footage revealed that Thomas had initially planned to take her daughters to McDonald’s, but instead drove to a service station where she purchased and filled a fuel container. She then parked at the McDonald’s car park until the car fire occurred. Fire crews responded to the burning car less than 10 minutes after the purchase of petrol, and the investigation found a significant amount of petrol had been poured throughout the vehicle.
According to Nicholas Ngai, counsel assisting the coroner, Jasmine Thomas and her husband Palakamannil had married in India in 2012 after meeting online through a website for arranged marriages. They had moved to Australia from Kuwait and were granted permanent residency in 2015. Thomas worked as a nurse at Melbourne hospitals but resigned unexpectedly from Mulgrave Private Hospital in 2021, citing post-natal depression and issues in her marriage. Palakamannil tearfully shared in court about his late wife and daughters, expressing his deep grief and the impact of their loss on his life.
Palakamannil described Evlyn as a source of happiness and remembered her milestones with love and pride. He spoke of his wife Jasmine’s struggles with connecting and engaging with others, mentioning her challenges in seeking help or forming friendships. The heartbreaking aftermath of losing his family on the same day was a devastating experience for him, as he expressed the profound impact of burying his loved ones and the irreplaceable loss he faced. The tragic incident left him forever changed, with memories of his family remaining as pictures on a screen.
The coroner, Cain, noted that Jasmine Thomas had sought help from various professional services, including police, but found no fault in their handling of her concerns. Despite her social isolation and mental health struggles, she had not been assessed as acutely unwell or received formal assistance due to her reluctance to engage with services. Her wider family largely disregarded her concerns, and despite indications of her distress, there were no opportunities to prevent the fatal act. The tragedy highlighted the nuanced challenges of mental health support and intervention in cases where individuals may not seek or accept help.
The impact of Jasmine Thomas’s death and the loss of her daughters reverberated through the community, underscoring the need for mental health awareness and support. In the wake of the tragedy, Palakamannil’s emotional testimony shed light on the complexities of grief and the enduring pain of losing loved ones in such a devastating manner. The aftermath of the car fire in Cranbourne West serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of mental health advocacy, support services, and community awareness in addressing the needs of individuals facing similar struggles. The heartbreaking loss of Jasmine, Evlyn, and Carolyn James serves as a tragic reminder of the fragility of life and the lasting impact of untreated mental health issues. If you or anyone you know needs support, resources such as Lifeline and Beyond Blue are available for assistance.
