A schizophrenic woman turned herself into a human

A schizophrenic woman turned herself into a human fireball
after suffering from mental illness for more than thirty six years,
an inquest heard.

Frail Clare Joynt, 54, poured petrol over her body and then
a set light to herself in the back garden of a home for the mentally
disturbed.

So deluded were her thoughts, that she believed her teddy
bears were alive, Southwark Coroners Court was told.

The court heard that she became very frail because
because she attempted to feed her many bears with her food and drink.

But in the end her tragic life became too much for her, and
she decided to end it, the court heard.

Miss Joynt was found on the patio of Marmora House in Marmora
Road, East Dulwich, by neighbour Charles Bishop on January 14 1993.

The court was told that he went to investigate what was going
on after becoming aware of a ‘foul stench.

‘
When he opened the window, he saw a body covered in flames
on the floor.

Seconds later, he alerted the police and an ambulance.

The court was told that Miss Joynt had been living at the
special home, run by Southside Patnership, for some two years.

In the weeks leading to her death, she had refused to come
out of her bedroom, and had become frail because she insisted
keeping her food for her teddy bears.

She had shown some improvement a few days before the
tragic incident, the court heard.

Care assistant Glen Metcalf said that on day of the tragedy,
Miss Joynt had appeared happy and had stayed up a little later
that usual to watch Inspector Morse.

He did not hear her get up during the night, and was only
aware of what had happened when the police arrived.

He said: ‘I have no idea where she got the petrol from, as
far as know, it was not kept at the house.

‘
Coroner Sir Montague Levine told the court that according
to pyschiatrists she had suffered from mental illness for more than
three-quarters of her life.

‘Her behaviour was sometimes abnormal and bizarre.

‘
‘She believed her teddy bears were alive, and fed them food
and drink given to her.

‘
But he said: ‘Although she was deluded, she denied having
suicidal thoughts.

‘
The post mortem revealed that she died from extensive burns.

Recording a verdict that she killed herself, Sir Montague
Levine remarked: `What a teribly sad case this is.

‘We shall never know when she went out to buy a quantity
of petrol, and why in the early hours of the morning she set light
to herself.

‘
He also praised staff for their attentive care of the woman.

ends