Man Sentenced to Whole Life for Arson Killing Ex's Sister, 3 Children

Sharaz Ali, a 40-year-old man, received a whole life prison sentence on Friday at Doncaster Crown Court for murdering his former partner's sister and her three young children by setting fire to their home in Bradford last year. The attack, carried out in a jealous rage, also resulted in a life sentence with a minimum term of 18 years for Calum Sunderland, 26, who assisted Ali by forcing entry into the house.

The fire occurred in the early hours of August 21, 2024, at a residence on Westbury Road. Ali targeted the home where his ex-girlfriend, Antonia Gawith, was staying with her sister, Bryonie Gawith, 29, after Antonia ended their seven-year abusive relationship weeks earlier. Court proceedings revealed Ali blamed Bryonie for the breakup and sought revenge, sending aggressive messages to Antonia accusing her of seeing someone else before traveling to the address.

Ali, a drug dealer, was driven to the scene by Mohammed Shabir, who died of a heart attack while on remand before the trial. En route, the group stopped to purchase petrol, filling a seven-liter canister. Upon arrival, Sunderland, a convicted arsonist who occasionally sold drugs for Ali, carried the petrol and a...