Mother deliberately started fire that killed herself and son, 4, hours before she was due to hand him back to his father in bitter custody battle, inquest hears

A mother-of-two deliberately started a blaze which killed her and her four-year-old son - just hours before she was expected to hand him back to his father in a bitter custody fight, an inquest heard. 

Janma Joshi, 40, and Moksha Jai Joshi died after fire ripped through a flat in Liverpool on May 8 this year.

An inquest in Liverpool heard how divorced Ms Joshi had felt 'upset and distressed' following a court hearing on May 7 when a judge ordered that Jai be returned to his father.

Ms Joshi had agreed to drop off her son at school the next day but instead but instead started a fire in the second-floor flat.   

Coroner Andre Rebello, recording verdicts of unlawful killing and suicide, described it as a 'most shocking, tragic and distressing' case.

Ms Joshi had been involved in a long-running custody battle with the boy's father Paresh Patel, 43, after the couple split.

Mr Patel had won custody of his son - known as Jai - but had agreed Ms Joshi could look after him during school holidays.

But at the time of the blaze she had kept her son for longer than the week allowed by the custody agreement.

Mr Patel, a shopkeeper from Preston, claims the authorities let Jai down because they took no action after his mother failed to return him following the school Easter holidays.

But the coroner found that the fire was 'unforeseen' and that authorities could not have seen a 'real or imminent threat' to the youngster. 

Speaking after the inquest, Mr Patel said: 'Today has been a very emotional and sad day that no father should have to endure.

'I have had to listen to the verdict from the coroner of the horrific circumstances leading to the premature and tragic death of my son Jai.

'The coroner has recorded a verdict of death by unlawful killing. 

'The verdict has brought an end to a tragic chapter in my life with the conclusion of the investigation.

'However, the verdict has not consoled me in any way and left heartbroken thinking about my son missing out of my life and missing out on life's wonderful journey.' 

Merseyside Police had previously said it was aware of the existence of a court order and social service involvement with the family.

- Dailymail