Woman dies after setting herself on fire

– husband had refused to reconcile
A woman ended her life yesterday by setting herself on fire in the bedroom of her matrimonial home at Bent Street, Wortmanville, after her estranged husband refused to reconcile with her.

Dead is Rhondina Adam, 29, a mother of two of TT Bent Street. Her death shocked relatives and residents who gathered outside the Bent Street home discussing the incident while armed police waited for the hearse to arrive. Moments before she set herself alight, she was being counselled by her mother, grandmother and husband, Egbert Adam, from whom she was separated.  Adam had told his wife that he did not want to reconcile after she had moved out of their home earlier this year.

Rhondina Adam

Adam told reporters that since February, his wife had taken their child out of school without his knowledge, told him that she did not want to live with him any more, and moved to Mahdia. He said that he had contacted the Ministry of Human Services, who attempted to help, but letters sent to Rhodina were torn up by her. The two were married in December 2001.

He said that last week Monday, Rhondina called him and said that she was coming back home to him. Adam related that three months before, he had started a relationship with another young woman and he told his wife that he did not want to be with her any more. However, she insisted that she would return and asked him to remove the other woman and her stuff, Adam said.

He recalled that Rhondina arrived on Friday and “tumbled up” the home, placing items in bags and taking some away. He said that he reported the matter to the Alberttown Police Station but ranks told him that it was a domestic matter and directed him to the Ministry of Human Services. He said that he did not spend Saturday night at home and Rhondina kept calling him on his cellular phone.

Police stand in front of the Bent Street home where Rhondina Adam set herself afire yesterday.

He returned home yesterday and they began to discuss their relationship.  Adam recalled telling his wife that he would not reconcile with her. They were with her mother and grandmother in the upper flat of another building in the same yard and she got upset, he said. She ran out of the house and went to the little building in front which they rented and lit herself afire, he said. “She left with a strange expression and about two minutes later, the house was on fire.” The incident occurred shortly after 10am yesterday. There was an explosion and neighbours rushed to quell the flames. The interior of the home suffered major damage while the outside looked relatively unscathed.

According to another relative, Rhondina had said that her husband would have to return “before it is too late.” The relative, who asked not to be identified, said that she had seen Rhondina with a little bucket yesterday morning and “apparently is gasoline she went and buy.” The relative said that after Rhondina ran downstairs, they heard an explosion. “She run… and do what she had to do,” the relative said. “She used to torment him,” one said.

Rhondina was the mother of two boys: an eight-year-old and an 11-month-old. She and her husband had married in December 2001 and she had moved out before, relatives said.  Relatives had often counselled her before, this newspaper was told.