Sharaz Ali, 40, has been sentenced to a whole-life order for the murder of his ex-partner’s sister and her three children in an arson attack in Bradford. The victims were Bryonie Gawith, 29, and her children Denisty Birtle, nine, Oscar Birtle, five, and Aubree Birtle, 22 months. The attack occurred on 21 August 2024, when Ali poured petrol at the family home and set it alight.
Antonia Gawith, Ali’s ex-partner and Bryonie’s sister, told the sentencing hearing at Doncaster Crown Court that she was the intended target. “Knowing they died because someone wanted to kill me is a torment I can never put into words,” she said. Antonia managed to escape the fire, but Bryonie and her children died.
The judge, Mr Justice Hilliard, described Ali as “motivated by jealousy and fuelled by drink and drugs”. He said Ali intended to “wipe out a family” and viewed the children as “acceptable collateral damage” due to his hatred for Bryonie, whom he blamed for the breakup. Ali was given a whole-life order, meaning he will never be released from prison.
Calum Sunderland, 27, who kicked in the door for Ali, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 18 years for manslaughter. The judge noted that Sunderland “knew the house was occupied” and agreed to an “extraordinarily dangerous” scheme. Bryonie was praised for her courage in staying with her children rather than fleeing.
Detective Chief Inspector Stacey Atkinson said Ali knew the children were inside and had no escape. Ali, a drug dealer, suffered severe burns and was initially not expected to survive, but recovered enough to stand trial.
