Sharaz Ali has been sentenced to a whole-life order for murdering his ex-partner’s sister Bryonie Gawith and her three children—Denisty Birtle (9), Oscar Birtle (5), and Aubree Birtle (22 months)—by setting fire to their house in Bradford on August 21, 2024. The incident was motivated by jealousy and fueled by drink and drugs.
Key Takeaways
Sharaz Ali received a whole-life order for murdering his ex-partner’s sister Bryonie Gawith and her three children by setting fire to their house in Bradford. The attack was motivated by jealousy. Antonia, who escaped, described the event as life-shattering. Calum Sunderland, who assisted Ali, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 18 years for manslaughter.
Antonia Gawith, Ali's ex-partner and Bryonie’s sister, managed to escape the blaze but was haunted by the knowledge that she was the intended target. She described the event as a torment that has shattered her life forever. During the sentencing hearing at Doncaster Crown Court on Friday, Antonia tearfully recounted how her sister had been a source of joy and warmth in their lives.
Mr Justice Hilliard emphasized that Ali's intention was to 'wipe out a family,' noting that the three children were considered 'acceptable collateral damage' due to his hatred for Bryonie. The judge praised Bryonie’s courage, stating she stayed with her children despite knowing the danger, determined to protect them until the end.
Calum Sunderland, who assisted Ali by kicking in the door of the house, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 18 years for manslaughter. The judge described Sunderland’s actions as part of an 'extraordinarily dangerous' scheme and noted that he knew the house was occupied.
The court heard that Ali suffered severe injuries in the fire, including burns to 70% of his body and amputations on two fingers from each hand. Despite these life-changing injuries, the judge held him solely responsible for his actions. The emergency services' response to the incident was praised as 'quite exceptional.'
Prosecutor David Brooke KC noted that the murders were 'particularly cruel' and that the jury had been shielded from what sounded like a child's scream on the 999 call, which had been muted when it was played during the trial. He added that Ali poured petrol on Antonia, showing an intention to kill through means that would have been excruciatingly painful.
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