Sharaz Ali, accused of murdering his ex-partner’s sister and her three children in a house fire, is said to have refused treatment from paramedics
A man accused of murdering his ex-partner’s sister and her three children in a house fire refused treatment from paramedics, a court heard.
Sharaz Ali allegedly set fire to the home of Bryonie Gawith and her children in August 2024 in revenge on Antonia Gawith, his ex-partner and Bryonie’s sister. Ms Gawith was staying at her sister’s home in Westbury Road in Bradford after ending her relationship with Ali.
Jurors have heard that Ali was rescued from the fire by the first police officers on the scene, who broke down the back door and pulled him out. By the time firefighters arrived, it was too late to save Bryonie, 29, and the three children, who were trapped upstairs. The children – Denisty Birtle, nine; Oscar Birtle, five; and 22-month-old Aubree Birtle – were all found in their beds and could not be revived.
On Wednesday, Doncaster Crown Court heard that Ali was arrested at the scene and refused treatment from paramedics.
A statement from PC Wilson, who attended the blaze in the early hours of August 21 last year, said Ali rejected oxygen and fluids and put his head in his hands when arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. He added medical teams eventually managed to calm him and give him oxygen before he was taken to hospital.
The court heard Ali continued to refuse treatment and would not allow anyone to touch him, but a doctor “made the decision to override this and gave him some drugs to knock him unconscious”.
Another officer, PC Sean McKee, said that when he attended Leeds General Infirmary, Ali was severely injured and his care team said he was in a critical condition, with 70 per cent of his body covered in burns. Jurors have heard Ali was placed in an induced coma for months before his recovery began.
Prosecutors say Ali was “motivated by jealousy and fuelled by drink and drugs” when he went to Bryonie’s house on Westbury Road, Bradford, where Antonia was staying after ending their “abusive” seven-year relationship earlier that month.
Last week, Antonia told the trial she came downstairs after hearing a noise and saw Ali force his way into the house with another man and then pour petrol around the house, on her and on himself. She said she ran outside thinking he would follow, but when he did not, she went back and saw Ali climbing the stairs. He was kicked down by Bryonie, who had woken up.
Antonia said she saw Ali use a lighter to start the fire before the front door swung shut. When she managed to open it, she said there was “fire everywhere”. She described trying to open the back door, which was jammed, while shouting for help for her sister, nieces and nephew, who were trapped inside as flames engulfed the house.
Ali, 40, of no fixed address, and Calum Sunderland, 26, of Calton Street, Keighley, are charged with murdering Bryonie and the three children and attempting to murder Antonia.
Mohammed Shabir, 45, who had been due to go on trial with them, died of a heart attack last month after collapsing in prison.
Prosecutors say Shabir drove to and from the house while Sunderland kicked the door in.
Ali and Sunderland deny the charges and the trial continues.
