James Swan Palakamannil shared a heartbreaking account with the Coroners Court of Victoria about the devastating loss of his wife, Jasmine Thomas, and their two daughters, Carolyn and Evlyn, who died tragically in a car fire in Melbourne two years ago.
He expressed the profound impact their deaths have had on his life, saying, “To see the coffin go down with all of your favourite people in it changes your life.” He emphasized that he would never be the same again, mourning the fact that he would never again be able to touch, feel, or see them, and they would only remain as pictures on a screen.
He described the day of their deaths, March 24, 2022, as the day the sky became “three stars richer.”
Palakamannil recalled fond memories of his daughters, describing three-year-old Carolyn as always wearing her favorite color, pink, and eagerly awaiting his return from work every day, while six-year-old Evlyn was the confident leader of the household, affectionately referred to as “the boss.”
Jasmine Thomas, their mother, had been struggling with postnatal depression and became increasingly paranoid during the COVID-19 pandemic. On the night of the tragic incident, Palakamannil returned home to find his daughters playing on a mobile phone and Jasmine lying in bed. Shortly afterward, Jasmine told him she was taking the girls to McDonald’s. However, CCTV footage revealed that she first went to a service station in the nearby suburb of Cranbourne West, where she purchased and filled a jerry can with fuel.
She then drove to a McDonald’s car park, where they stayed until around 7:30 p.m. Less than 10 minutes later, she drove to a secluded spot on the Western Port Highway, doused the car in fuel, and set it alight with herself and her two daughters inside.
Emergency services responded to a passer-by’s report of the fire, which was brought under control within 15 minutes. Tragically, Jasmine, Evlyn, and Carolyn all perished in the blaze.
Palakamannil expressed the profound emptiness and silence he now feels in their once vibrant home, saying, “[I’m now] living in an empty and silent house.” He and Jasmine had married in India in 2012 after meeting on an arranged marriage website. Both born in Kuwait, they moved to Australia and were granted permanent residency in 2015.
Palakamannil reminisced about teaching Evlyn to be a good person, inspired by his experiences during the Gulf War. He spoke of the pride he felt watching her take her first steps and say her first words, and the bedtime conversations they shared about global issues, hoping to instill in her a desire to be a force for positive change.
Jasmine had been working as a nurse in Melbourne hospitals, but unexpectedly resigned from her position at Mulgrave Private Hospital in 2021. She continued to work casually at Dandenong Hospital while confiding in her family about marriage problems she was experiencing.
Coroner John Cain noted that Jasmine had reached out to various professional services, including the police, and had experienced postnatal depression. However, as she was not assessed as acutely unwell and did not wish to engage in services, she did not receive any formal assistance or diagnosis. Despite concerns about her mental health, there was no opportunity for intervention to prevent the tragic murder-suicide.
The court also heard how Jasmine had become socially isolated, with her problems often overlooked by her extended family. Palakamannil expressed his wish that Jasmine had sought help, acknowledging her struggles to connect with others and make friends, and the devastating consequence of her actions on their family.
