A man accused of murdering his former partner's sister and her three children in a devastating house fire refused medical treatment after being rescued from the blaze, a court has heard.
The Tragic Incident
Sharaz Ali allegedly set fire to the home of Bryonie Gawith in what prosecutors describe as a botched revenge attack against his ex-partner, Antonia Gawith, who was staying with her sister at the time. The tragic event occurred on 21 August last year at the Westbury Road property in Bradford.
Twenty-nine-year-old Bryonie Gawith perished in the flames alongside her three children: nine-year-old Denisty Birtle, five-year-old Oscar Birtle, and 22-month-old Aubree Birtle. All four victims were found in their beds and could not be revived despite the efforts of emergency services.
Courtroom Testimony
The jury at Doncaster Crown Court heard that police officers arriving first at the scene managed to break down the back door and rescue Ali from the fire. However, by the time firefighters reached the property, it was too late to save the mother and children who were trapped upstairs.
Ali was arrested at the scene and repeatedly refused treatment from paramedics, according to court statements. PC Wilson testified that Ali rejected oxygen and fluids, putting his head in his hands when arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.
Medical teams eventually calmed Ali enough to administer oxygen before transporting him to hospital, where he continued to refuse treatment. The court heard that a doctor ultimately decided to override Ali's refusal and administered drugs to render him unconscious due to the severity of his injuries.
Severe Injuries and Recovery
PC Shauna McKee's statement revealed that when she attended Leeds General Infirmary, Ali was in critical condition with 70% of his body covered in burns. The defendant was placed in an induced coma for several months before beginning his recovery.
Prosecutors allege that Ali was "motivated by jealousy and fuelled by drink and drugs" when he went to Bryonie's house, where Antonia was staying after ending their "abusive" seven-year relationship earlier that month.
Last week, Antonia Gawith gave emotional testimony, describing how she came downstairs after hearing noise and saw Ali force his way into the house with another man. She told the court she witnessed Ali pour petrol around the house, on her, and on himself before using a lighter to start the fire.
Antonia explained that she ran outside expecting Ali to follow, but when he didn't, she returned to find him climbing the stairs. She testified that Bryonie woke up and kicked Ali down the stairs before the front door swung shut, trapping the family inside as flames engulfed the property.
Forty-year-old Sharaz Ali, of no fixed address, and 26-year-old Calum Sunderland of Calton Street, Keighley, are charged with murdering Bryonie and her three children and attempting to murder Antonia Gawith. Both defendants deny the charges.
The trial continues as the court examines the devastating circumstances surrounding one of Bradford's most tragic domestic violence cases.
