Lawyer Stephen Gutierrez, a 28-year-old Miami lawyer, in his closing argument was making the case that his client’s car was not set on fire deliberately but rather the subject of spontaneous combustion when his trousers suddenly caught fire and he ran from the courtroom.

Spontaneous combustion

Jurors were ushered out of the courtroom but all returned shortly unharmed with the young lawyer insisting it was not a stage defence demonstration gone awry. In fact it was reported that the solicitor said: 'Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, you may not believe in spontaneous combustion, but behold! Flame on!’ Mr Gutierrez blamed an exploding e-cigarette for the incident. Despite all the dramatics, his client was found guilty of second-degree arson.