Man Who Killed Ex-girlfriend’s Sister And Three Children In Bradford House Fire Jailed For Life

Man who killed ex-girlfriend’s sister and three children in Bradford house fire jailed for life A man who murdered his ex-girlfriend’s sister and her three young children in a devastating house fire in Bradford, United Kingdom, has been sentenced to a whole-life jail term, meaning he will never be released from prison. The attacker, identified as Sharaz Ali, set fire to the home in a revenge attack after the end of his relationship with his former partner. The blaze killed Bryonie Gawith, 29, and her three children Denisty Birtle, 9; Oscar Birtle, 5; and Aubree Birtle, 22 months who were trapped inside the house when the fire broke out. The court heard that Ali had been in an abusive relationship with his ex-girlfriend, Antonia Gawith, who had recently left him and was staying at her sister’s home in Bradford at the time of the attack. Prosecutors said Ali broke into the house during the early hours of the morning and poured petrol around the property before setting it alight in an act of revenge. Antonia managed to escape the burning building, but her sister and the three children were trapped upstairs. The victims were later found dead in their beds after being overcome by smoke and fumes from the rapidly spreading fire. During the trial, the court was told that Ali was driven by jealousy and anger following the breakdown of his relationship. Prosecutors argued that he intended to cause maximum harm and knew there were children in the house when he started the blaze.

Ali was convicted of multiple counts of murder and attempted murder. The judge imposed a whole-life order, the most severe sentence under UK law, meaning he will spend the rest of his life behind bars without the possibility of parole.

An accomplice, Calum Sunderland, who helped him force entry into the house, was also convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term before parole eligibility. Family members described the loss of Bryonie and her children as “unimaginable,” paying tribute to a loving mother and three innocent young lives cut short in the tragic attack.