A woman struggled to take a gasoline container away from her former partner, who was described as “envious,” before he set fire to their residence, resulting in the tragic deaths of her sister and three young nieces and nephews, a court was informed.
Antonia Gawith reportedly engaged in a fierce confrontation with Sharaz Ali when he forcefully entered the house in a vengeful act, driven by jealousy and under the influence of alcohol and drugs following the termination of their abusive seven-year relationship. He unlawfully entered the property, poured gasoline inside, and ignited it, causing a devastating fire in Bradford, West Yorkshire, claiming the lives of Bryonie Gawith, 29, Denisty Birtle, nine, Oscar Birtle, five, and Aubree Birtle, 22 months old.
Footage shown in court captured Antonia desperately seeking help as the fire rapidly engulfed the house after Ali’s destructive actions. Despite her efforts to rescue her trapped family members, the intensity of the fire prevented any immediate intervention from neighbors. When law enforcement arrived minutes later, the front of the residence was already consumed by flames, and the rescue attempt came too late for Bryonie and the children.
Charged with the murder of Bryonie and the three children, as well as the attempted murder of Antonia, are Sharaz Ali, 40, of undisclosed residency, and his alleged associate Calum Sunderland, 26, from Keighley. Mohammed Shabir, 45, who was also implicated in the crime, passed away from a heart attack while in custody before the trial commenced.
During the trial, prosecutor David Brooke KC detailed how the three men traveled from Keighley to Bryonie’s home in Bradford, purchasing a can of petrol en route. Ali instructed Sunderland to break the door, carrying the petrol and a lighter, and then fled the scene after the destructive act. Antonia, who was with Bryonie at the time, engaged in a physical struggle with Ali to prevent further harm, eventually leading to the fatal fire.
The court heard accounts of the tragic events that unfolded, including the desperate attempts of Antonia and the ultimate loss of life due to the heinous actions of Ali. Despite being severely injured in the fire, Ali was eventually rescued by law enforcement.
Prosecutor David Brooke emphasized the premeditated nature of the crime, attributing the tragic loss of lives to Ali’s jealousy and disregard for the consequences of his actions. The trial is ongoing, with both Ali and Sunderland denying the charges brought against them.