In the early hours of August 21, 2024, a devastating tragedy unfolded on Westbury Road in Bradford, England. A house fire, described by prosecutors as "catastrophic," claimed the lives of Bryonie Gawith, 29, and her three young children: Denisty, aged 9, Oscar, 5, and 22-month-old Aubree Birtle. The only survivor from inside the house was Bryonie’s sister, Antonia Gawith, who managed to escape the inferno. The blaze, authorities allege, was not a tragic accident but a calculated act of revenge, rooted in jealousy and personal turmoil.
The trial for this harrowing case began on November 18, 2025, at Doncaster Crown Court, drawing significant attention from both the public and media. At the center of the proceedings are Sharaz Ali, 40, of no fixed address, and Calum Sunderland, 26, of Keighley. Both men stand accused of four counts of murder, the attempted murder of Antonia Gawith, and attempting to cause grievous bodily harm. Both have pleaded not guilty to all charges.
According to BBC coverage of the trial, prosecutor David Brooke KC painted a picture of a man "motivated by jealousy and fueled by drink and drugs" who "decided to take revenge on his ex-partner Antonia regardless of the potential consequences for others." The prosecution alleges that Ali, reeling from the end of a seven-year relationship with Antonia—a relationship described in court as abusive and exacerbated by his drinking—plotted to harm her after she left him and sought refuge at her sister Bryonie’s home.
On the night in question, Ali allegedly enlisted the help of Sunderland and a third man, Mohammed Amjid Shabir, to carry out his plan. The trio drove from Keighley to Bradford, stopping along the way to purchase a seven-litre can of petrol. Doorbell camera footage, presented in court and reported by The Guardian, showed Sunderland carrying the petrol canister and Ali instructing him to "kick the door in." Sunderland complied, then ran back to the car, leaving Ali to enter the house.
Inside, the events turned frantic and violent. Antonia, who had just finished a late shift at Tesco and was awake upstairs, heard the commotion and went to investigate. She encountered Ali, who immediately began pouring petrol on her. In a desperate struggle, Antonia tried to wrestle the petrol and lighter from Ali. She then ran outside, screaming for help, hoping to lure him out of the house. Realizing he had not followed, she rushed back inside, only to see her sister Bryonie confronting Ali on the stairs. Prosecutor Brooke told the jury that "the fire exploded into life," engulfing Ali, the stairs, and Bryonie. Antonia found herself locked out, unable to re-enter through the jammed back door, despite her frantic attempts.
According to YorkshireLive, the fire quickly became uncontrollable. Neighbors reported hearing screams and seeing the sky lit up as if by thunder and lightning. Despite the rapid response of firefighters and police, who arrived within six minutes, the flames had already consumed the house. Bryonie and her three children were found in their beds, and a pathologist later determined that they were rendered unconscious by fumes before succumbing to the fire. Some of the doorbell footage played in court had been edited to mute screaming, which prosecutors believe may have come from one of the children.
Ali himself was caught in the blaze and had to be rescued by police. He suffered severe injuries and was placed in an induced coma for several months before beginning his recovery. When eventually interviewed by police, Ali chose to make no comment to all questions posed. Sunderland and Shabir, meanwhile, fled the scene in Shabir’s car, returning to Bradford.
The trial also revealed more about the days leading up to the tragedy. Antonia had been staying at Bryonie’s home after a family holiday, during which Bryonie encouraged her to leave Ali due to the abusive nature of their relationship. Text messages between Antonia and Ali, retrieved by investigators, showed a mix of cordiality and aggression, with Ali’s tone becoming particularly hostile when he had been drinking. Prosecutor Brooke emphasized to the jury that Ali "was not happy about the break-up and continued to call and text her over the next days." In one particularly telling moment captured on the doorbell camera, Ali’s command to Sunderland to "kick in the door" underscored the premeditated nature of the attack.
Shabir, the alleged getaway driver, was also due to stand trial alongside Ali and Sunderland. However, he died of a heart attack in prison while awaiting trial, as reported by BBC and other outlets. In a written statement to police, Sunderland claimed he did not know what Ali intended to do, describing his co-defendant as drunk and "a bully." Nevertheless, prosecutors maintain that both Ali and Sunderland played crucial roles in the fatal sequence of events.
Forensic analysis presented in court indicated that the fire started just after 2 a.m. and that the victims were likely rendered unconscious by toxic fumes before the flames reached them. The prosecution contends that Ali’s actions were deliberate and targeted, not only at Antonia but also at her family, as a means of inflicting maximum pain and loss.
The case has gripped the Bradford community, raising questions about domestic violence, the warning signs of abusive relationships, and the devastating consequences when jealousy and rage go unchecked. The National Domestic Violence Hotline has reiterated its message to those at risk, urging anyone experiencing domestic abuse to seek help through confidential resources available around the clock.
As the trial continues, the details emerging from the courtroom offer a sobering reminder of the fragility of safety within one’s own home and the far-reaching impact of violence. The prosecution’s case, built on surveillance footage, forensic evidence, and the harrowing testimony of the sole survivor, seeks to ensure that justice is served for Bryonie Gawith and her children, whose lives were so cruelly cut short.
With the trial still underway, the people of Bradford—and indeed, all who have followed this case—await the jury’s verdict, hoping for accountability and perhaps, in time, some measure of healing for those left behind.
