A man has been found guilty of murdering his ex-partner’s sister and her three children in a house fire in Bradford.
Sharaz Ali, 40, set fire to the home of Bryonie Gawith in a botched revenge attack on his former partner Antonia Gawith in the early hours of August 21 last year.
Doncaster Crown Court jurors previously heard Ali and his associate, Calum Sunderland, forced their way into the house before Ali poured petrol around inside.
Prosecutors said Ali he went to the house to ‘take revenge’ on his former partner who was staying with her sister after ending their ‘abusive’ seven-year relationship the month before.
Antonia managed to escape but Bryonie, 29, and her children Denisty Birtle, nine, Oscar Birtle, five, and 22-month-old Aubree Birtle died in the blaze.
Sunderland, 26, was found guilty of four counts of manslaughter but was cleared of murder.
He was also aquitted of attempted murder, and an alternative count of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm, in relation to Antonia.
After they returned their verdicts, Mr Justice Hilliard thanked jurors and said the case had been ‘distressing beyond measure – three children and their mother murdered’.
Bryonie Gawith, 29, and her children, Denisty Birtle, nine, Oscar Birtle, five, and 22-month-old Aubree Birtle died in a tragic house fire last year
The house on Westbury Road, Bradford, where the mother and her children were killed
He said: ‘I don’t think anyone who heard Antonia’s desperate cries for help will ever forget them.’
He added: ‘These are truly dreadful crimes.’
But, he said, there was also the ‘extraordinary bravery’ shown by people who tried to save the children trapped in the house, including their mother Antonia.
He praised Pc Miles Milner, who pulled Ali out of the fire, along with a colleague.
The judge asked: ‘Did you ever hear a braver thing?’
Mr Justice Hilliard said jurors were excused jury service in the future.
This is a breaking news story – more to follow