Man killed ex-partner's sister and her three children in 'revenge' house fire, court told

A man who allegedly tried to murder his ex-partner ended up killing her sister and her three children in a house fire, a trial has heard.

Prosecutors told a jury that Sharaz Ali was "motivated by jealousy and fuelled by drink and drugs" when he set fire to Bryonie Gawith's home early on 21 August last year.

Jurors heard that Ali went to the property, on Westbury Road, Bradford, aiming to "take revenge" on his ex, Antonia Gawith, who was staying there after ending their "abusive" seven-year relationship earlier that month.

Ali and his associate, Calum Sunderland, forced their way into the home before Ali poured petrol around inside and set it alight, Doncaster Crown Court was told.

Antonia Gawith managed to escape, but Bryonie Gawith, 29, and her children Denisty Birtle, nine, Oscar Birtle, five, and 22-month-old Aubree Birtle died in the fire.

Ali, 40, of no fixed address, and Sunderland, 26, of Keighley, are charged with murdering the family as well as attempting to murder Antonia Gawith.

Mohammed Shabir, 45, who had been due to go on trial with them, died of a heart attack last month after collapsing in jail.

Prosecutor David Brooke KC said the men drove from Keighley to Bradford just before 2am, stopping to buy a seven-litre can of petrol on the journey.

He told jurors that Ali was captured on ring doorbell footage telling Sunderland, who was carrying the petrol and a lighter, to "kick the door in", which he did before running back to the car.

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Mr Brooke said Ali went inside the house and poured petrol on Antonia Gawith.

Antonia saw Bryonie, who had woken up, kick Ali as he was walking up the stairs, the court heard.

Mr Brooke said: "She (Antonia) managed to wrestle the container from him but he lit the lighter and a fire started including himself, the stairs and her sister.

"She ended up outside the closed front door and was then unable to get back inside.

"She ran around the back of the house but the back door had been jamming and she couldn't get it open despite her kicking it."

Footage played in court showed Shabir and Sunderland driving away before the fire "exploded into life".

The court heard that as Antonia was at the back of the house, her sister called 999.

The trial was told that when police arrived six minutes later, flames were engulfing the front of the house, and it was too late to save Bryonie and the children.

Mr Brooke said: "Sharaz Ali was himself caught by his own actions and was later pulled out of the house by the police badly injured."

The prosecutor also said: "The main mover in what happened was plainly Sharaz Ali.

"Motivated by jealousy and fuelled by drink and drugs it is obvious that he decided to take revenge on his ex-partner Antonia regardless of the potential consequences for others."

Ali and Sunderland deny the charges and the trial continues.

(c) Sky News 2025: Man killed ex-partner's sister and her three children in 'revenge' house fire, court told