Man accused of murdering mum and three youngsters in home hearth halts trial and says ‘I’m achieved’

A man accused of murdering a mum and her three children in a house fire stopped answering questions in his trial while telling the court “I’m done”.

Calum Sunderland was giving evidence for a second day on Tuesday (December 2) at Doncaster Crown Court where he and Sharaz Ali deny murdering Bryonie Gawith, 29, and her children – Denisty Birtle, nine, Oscar Birtle, five, and 22-month-old Aubree Birtle.

Sunderland was being cross-examined by David Brooke KC, prosecuting, when he turned to look at the dock and said: “I’m going back there.”

The judge, Mr Justice Hilliard, told Sunderland that it was important he continued to give evidence but the defendant replied: “Honestly, I’m done, I can’t do this.”

The jury was asked to leave the court briefly and when the jurors returned, they were told by the judge that the case will resume on Wednesday (December 3).

He told the jury: “All I’m going to say at the moment is that we’re just going to take some time and we’re not going to go any further today. We’ll all have to be patient.”

The judge added: “You will all appreciate this is a stressful case for all those involved from their different points of view, for obvious reasons.”

He said: “There is always a strain on all defendants giving evidence in their own defence but especially when the allegations are as serious as these.”

Prosecutors say Ali enlisted the help of Sunderland for a botched revenge attack on his former partner Antonia Gawith, who is Bryonie Gawith’s sister. Antonia survived the blaze in the house on Westbury Road, Bradford, in the early hours of August 21 last year.

It is alleged Ali deliberately set fire to the house, where Antonia was staying after ending their “abusive relationship”.

Doncaster Crown Court heard that after Ali went into the house and started pouring petrol around inside, as well as on himself, prompting Antonia to run outside in an attempt to lure him out.

But Ali, 40, stayed in the house and used a lighter to start a blaze which killed Bryonie and her three children, who were all upstairs, prosecutors have claimed.

Sunderland, 26, is seen on Ring doorbell camera footage walking up to the house holding the petrol canister, kicking the door down when instructed by Ali, and then running off.

On Monday (December 1), Sunderland said he had been recruited to “burn a car” and would never have gone if he had known there were people in the house.

He said he did not know whose car he was going to torch, and did not ask.

Sunderland said when they arrived at the house on Westbury Road, Ali told him all the residents were on holiday and they would have to go through the house to get the car out of the garage.

Ali, of no fixed address, and Sunderland, of Calton Street, Keighley, deny 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 while on remand.

The court previously heard that Ali was rescued from the fire by police officers who had arrived at the scene first.

He told the trial that he wanted to kill himself in front of Antonia, and only intended to set himself alight.

The trial was adjourned to Wednesday at 10.30am.

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