Man who set himself on fire at nail salon had restraining order

A woman whose estranged husband set himself ablaze in her Costa Mesa nail salon filed a restraining order against him last year after he allegedly threatened her with a hammer, according to court records.

Nam Thieu, 46, of Westminster doused himself in a flammable liquid and set himself on fire Sunday at Creative Nail & Spa at 3033 Bristol St., the Costa Mesa Police Department said. He was the only one reported injured at the scene.

Thieu suffered burns on more than 70% of his body and was not expected to survive. On Tuesday night, he was listed in critical condition.

The couple, who have three children, had a difficult history, the Daily Pilot reported. His wife described a November dispute in a restraining order application filed at the Lamoreaux Justice Center in Orange in which Thieu allegedly demanded that she put their car’s title in his name, waved a hammer in her direction and used a derogatory word to describe her and her mother.

The day prior, Thieu allegedly threw a water bottle at his wife and slammed a screwdriver on a table, she said through a Vietnamese translator, according to court documents.

His wife asked the court that her husband attend a yearlong treatment program for batterers and enter a drug-rehabilitation program.

On Jan. 18, a judge ordered Thieu to a 22-week anger management program, according to court records.

On Feb. 29, Thieu was served with divorce papers, according to court records.

On Monday afternoon, the salon was open and employees attended to customers; there were no visible signs of Sunday’s incident.

ALSO:

Justin Bieber’s neighbor says singer assaulted him

Anti-gay marriage lawyer: ‘We are going to win this case’

Manson follower arrested in phone smuggle has history with killer

lauren.williams@latimes.com