Murder suspect arrested at scene of home hearth in a coma, courtroom informed
A man arrested on suspicion of murder at the scene of a house fire that killed a mother and her three children is ‘in a coma’ and ‘may not recover’, a court heard.
Bryonie Gawith, 29, Denisty Birtle, nine, Oscar Birtle, five, and 22-month-old Aubree Birtle died following the blaze at their home in Westbury Road, Bradford, in the early hours of August 21.
Mohammed Shabir, 44, and Calum Sunderland, 25, both of Keighley, appeared in court accused of murder and the attempted murder of Antonia Gawith.
Prosecutor Matthew Bean told Bradford Crown Court there was a third suspect who was ‘in a coma’ in hospital after being arrested at the scene of the fire.
‘He is, at the moment, very unwell and the expectation is that he may not recover,’ Mr Bean said.
Bryonie Gawith, 29, Denisty Birtle, nine, Oscar Birtle, five, and 22-month-old Aubree Birtle died following the blaze at their home on August 21
An aerial view of the scene in Westbury Road after a house fire killed four people on August 21
The house on Westbury Road, Bradford, where Bryonie Gawith, 29, and her three children died in a house fire
‘He may, but at the moment there is a degree of uncertainty.
‘There is a possibility there will be two further defendants, perhaps three, on different offences but linked.’
Shabir and Sunderland, who appeared on a video link from prison, were not asked to enter pleas to the charges.
They were remanded in custody until their next appearance at the same court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on September 25.
Judge Jonathan Rose, the Recorder of Bradford, set a provisional trial date of March 4.
Mr Bean said the trial was expected to last between eight and 10 days, but could be longer if there are other defendants or if the third suspect recovers.
Police said Sunderland was arrested following police inquiries in the Keighley area of the city in the early hours of Monday morning.
Shabir was arrested when he attended a police station after 10am on the same day.
West Yorkshire Police said four other people remain under investigation, including a 39-year-old man who was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder and remains in hospital in a critical condition.
Nine-year-old Denisty, ‘cheeky but shy’ Oscar, five, and Aubree Birtle, 22 months – were all at home when the building was set alight
Court sketch shows Mohammed Shabir, 44, (left) and Calum Sunderland, 25, (right) both of Keighley, as they appeared at Bradford Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday
A horrific clip showed the moment the fire broke out and flames engulfed the home on Westbury Road in Bradford
Emotional tributes were left at the scene on Westbury Road, including balloons and bears
Ms Gawith died at the scene and the three children died from their injuries in hospital.
In a statement issued via the force last week, the family of the victims said the loss of ‘our B’ and the children, referred to as ‘Chuch, Oggy and Strawberry’, had brought ‘unimaginable sadness and grief’.
The tribute read: ‘Our B was the life and soul of the party, music was a big part of her life, she loved music, singing and dancing, she would always be singing and dancing with Chuch (Denisty), Oggy (Oscar) and Strawberry (Aubree).
‘B was always a really happy, joyful, bubbly beautiful woman, who cared for everyone and was loved by everyone, her kids were everything to her, her whole life.
‘Oggy had the cheekiest smile, he was cheeky but he was a shy boy, Strawbs was shy and bashful with big blue eyes and blonde hair and Chuch was a beautiful, confident, outgoing and creative young girl.
‘We are still trying to comprehend what has happened to our beautiful family.
‘No words can describe how we are feeling and no words could ever make up for the profound loss we are now faced with.’
