Man accused of revenge arson faces trial after deadly Bradford blaze
Two men are on trial in Bradford, England, after an early‑morning house fire on Aug. 21, 2024, left four people dead and one survivor, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors told jurors on Nov. 18 that 40‑year‑old Sharaz Ali of Bradford allegedly carried out an arson attack on the home where his former partner had been staying. Ali and his friend, 26‑year‑old Calum Sunderland of Keighley, both pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including murder, attempted murder and causing grievous bodily harm, the BBC reports.
According to opening statements, Ali decided to "take revenge" after his seven‑year relationship with Antonia Gawith ended. Antonia escaped the early‑morning blaze, prosecutors said, but her sister, 29‑year‑old Bryonie Gawith, and Bryonie’s three young children — Denisty, 9; Oscar, 5; and Aubree Birtle, 22 months — died in the fire.
Prosecutor David Brooke told jurors Ali was "motivated by jealousy and fueled by drink and drugs" and that he allegedly broke into the house just before 2 a.m., poured petrol inside and set it alight. The courtroom was told the resulting blaze was "catastrophic." Witness Lindsay Pearson told The Guardian her daughter heard shouting about 1:45 a.m. and then saw "a big flame, like the sky was all lit up," adding it looked "like thunder and lightning, like you see in a thunderstorm."
"Caught by his own actions," the prosecution said Ali was injured in the fire and had to be rescued from the property.
Police charged Ali and Sunderland with four counts of murder and additional counts related to attempted murder and grievous bodily harm. A third man, Mohammed Amjid Shabir, was accused of driving Ali and Sunderland to the property; he died of a suspected heart attack in custody while awaiting trial, the BBC reports.
The court heard Antonia had left Ali because she was tired of alleged abuse and his alcohol use and had gone to stay at her sister Bryonie’s house. Both defendants deny the charges and the trial is ongoing.
Support and sources
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, contact local support services. In the U.S., call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1‑800‑799‑7233 or visit thehotline.org. (All calls are toll‑free and confidential; helplines vary by country.)
Reporting compiled from court statements and coverage by the BBC, The Guardian and People.
