Man Convicted of Murdering Woman and 3 Children in House Fire

A jury at Doncaster Crown Court has convicted Sharaz Ali, 40, of murdering Bryonie Gawith, 29, and her three young children in a deliberate house fire in Bradford, as well as attempting to murder her sister Antonia Gawith. The attack occurred in the early hours of August 21, 2024, at the family's home on Westbury Road, where Ali sought revenge after Antonia ended their abusive seven-year relationship weeks earlier.

Prosecutors described Ali as motivated by jealousy, fueled by alcohol and drugs, in an act intended to inflict maximum harm. He enlisted Calum Sunderland, 26, and Mohammed Shabir, 45, who drove them to the scene. En route, the group stopped to obtain a seven-liter canister of petrol. Ali sent aggressive text messages to Antonia accusing her of infidelity. Upon arrival around 2 a.m., doorbell camera footage showed Sunderland, carrying the petrol and a lighter, kicking in the front door at Ali's instruction before fleeing to the getaway car. Shabir, who had been on remand awaiting trial, died of a heart attack in prison before the proceedings began.

Antonia, who had finished a shift at a local Tesco supermarket shortly before midnight, was upstairs with Bryonie when she...