Man denies murdering mother and her three children, aged one, five and nine in Bradford house fire
Bryonie Gawith, 28, nine-year-old Denisty Birtle, Oscar Birtle, five, and 22-month-old Aubree Birtle died after the blaze at their home in Westbury Road, in the early hours of August 21.
Sharaz Ali, 39, of no fixed address, is charged with murdering the family, as well as attempting to murder Ms Gawith's sister, Antonia Gawith.
He has today appeared before Bradford Crown Court over a video link from HMP Leeds.
He pleaded not guilty to all five charges, as well as a charge of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to Antonia Gawith.
He appeared alongside his co-accused Mohammed Shabir, 44, and Calum Sunderland, 25, both from Keighley.
They are charged with four counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.
Earlier hearings have been told that Ali had been in a coma since the fire and was not expected to be well enough to stand trial, even if he did wake up.
His prognosis was later revised and, following a 'marked improvement' in his condition at the beginning of this year, Ali was charged with the offences in March after doctors found him fit to stand trial.
He appeared at his first court hearings via video link from his hospital bed, before being moved to prison.
The three defendants appeared together remotely from prison at Monday's hearing, when prosecutor David Brooke KC said Ali 'does appear to be fit'.
Their trial is expected to go ahead on November 17, the court heard.
In an emotional statement issued by police following the shocking deaths last August, the family said the loss of 'our B' and the children, referred to as 'Chuch, Oggy and Strawberry', had brought 'unimaginable sadness and grief'.
The tribute read: 'Our B was the life and soul of the party, music was a big part of her life, she loved music, singing and dancing, she would always be singing and dancing with Chuch (Denisty), Oggy (Oscar) and Strawberry (Aubree).
'B was always a really happy, joyful, bubbly beautiful woman, who cared for everyone and was loved by everyone, her kids were everything to her, her whole life.
'Oggy had the cheekiest smile, he was cheeky but he was a shy boy, Strawbs was shy and bashful with big blue eyes and blonde hair and Chuch was a beautiful, confident, outgoing and creative young girl.
'We are still trying to comprehend what has happened to our beautiful family.
'No words can describe how we are feeling and no words could ever make up for the profound loss we are now faced with.
'We are overwhelmed and grateful for all the support and kind words we are receiving, but we ask as a family if we can be given the respect and privacy so we can try to come to terms with the unimaginable sadness and grief of this tragic loss of our beautiful family.
'Also our thoughts and support for the father of our three babies. Please allow him peace to grieve and come to terms with the loss of his family.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
30 minutes ago
- The Independent
Officials plan to seek the death penalty for a Tennessee man charged with killing 4
Prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty against a Tennessee man charged with killing the parents, grandmother and uncle of an infant found abandoned in a home's front yard on Thursday. Austin Robert Drummond, 28, appeared by a video feed from jail before a judge in Tiptonville, two days after he was arrested in the killings that set the mostly rural region of western Tennessee on edge. At the hearing, District Attorney Danny Goodman told the judge that the state intends to seek the death penalty. Lake County General Sessions Judge Andrew T. Cook ordered Drummond held without bond because it a capital case. Drummond was wearing a black and white striped jumpsuit and seated in a chair. He told a judge he operated a business and he said he wants a speedy trial in the case. The judge entered a guilty plea on his behalf because a lawyer had not been appointed yet. The judge then ruled him indigent and granted a court-appointed attorney. Drummond is charged with four counts of first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping and weapons offenses. A weeklong search for Drummond ended when he was taken into custody in Jackson, located about 70 miles southeast of the location of the July 29 slayings. The ordeal began after an infant in a car seat was found in a front yard in the Tigrett area, roughly 40 miles (65 kilometers) from Tiptonville. The Dyer County Sheriff's Office said in a statement that a caller reported a minivan or midsize SUV had dropped the infant at a 'random individual's front yard.' The sheriff's office later said they were working with investigators in neighboring Lake County, where four people had been found dead from gunshot wounds. Officials determined those people were the child's parents, grandmother and uncle. Authorities later identified them as James M. Wilson, 21; Adrianna Williams, 20; Cortney Rose, 38; and Braydon Williams, 15. Wilson and Adrianna Williams were the infant's parents, while Rose was Adrianna and Braydon Williams' mother. Investigators determined the four relatives had not been seen since the night before, according to Goodman, the district attorney. A relative had called 911 after finding two vehicles in a remote area, and the four bodies were found in nearby woods, Goodman said. Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director David Rausch has said it's believed the killings were a targeted attack by Drummond. The baby is safe and being cared for by other relatives. Hours before Tuesday's arrest, Jackson Police posted a roughly 20-second video surveillance clip showing someone they said was Drummond wearing camouflage and carrying a firearm, trying to enter the door of an unspecified building. Jackson Police Chief Thom Corley said the calls from the public helped officers arrest Drummond, who had been staying in a vacant building near the woods where he was taken into custody. Drummond's criminal history includes prison time for robbing a convenience store and threatening to go after jurors. He was also charged with attempted murder while behind bars. The TBI has charged three other people they said helped Goodman after the killings.
The Independent
30 minutes ago
- The Independent
‘My flabber has never been so gasted': Shock as Airbnb host rejects guests because they're Welsh
Two friends were left shocked after being rejected from their Airbnb booking because they are Welsh. Jemma Louise Gough, 38, and Jamie Lee Watkins, 37, from Cwmbran, in southeast Wales, booked a one-night stay in Manchester for a concert at the Co-op Live Arena in November. The pair told the Airbnb host they were traveling from Wales when arranging the stay. But just over an hour later, they saw that their payment had been refunded, and their booking request had been declined. Upon asking the host why the booking had been refused, the host responded: 'Because you're from Wales.' The friends are accusing the owner of discrimination under the Equality Act 2010. The legislation protects people from prejudice in the workplace and in wider society, including on the grounds of nationality. On social media, Jemma Gough called the comment 'absolutely horrendous.' Speaking to BBC Radio Wales Breakfast, Jemma said 'my flabber had never been so gasted.' 'When I heard that my mouth hit the floor,' she said. The school support officer told BBC Radio Wales that it made her feel like an outsider and not welcome. She said: 'It was pure discrimination just from where we're from. 'I am so proud to be Welsh, I think that's why I decided to speak out. 'I want to challenge these narrow views.' A spokesperson for Airbnb told The Independent: 'Discrimination, including on the basis of nationality, has no place on Airbnb. As soon as this report was brought to our attention, we reached out to the guest to provide our support and suspended the host while we investigate this matter.'
Glasgow Times
30 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
First migrants detained under ‘one in, one out' deal as PM vows to secure border
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the Government was prepared to defend itself against legal challenges if migrants seek to avoid being sent back across the English Channel. The migrants detained were among those who risked the Channel crossing on Wednesday, the day the pilot scheme began operating. Some 155 people were detected making the crossing on Wednesday in two boats, taking the total for the year to 25,591, 45% higher than at the same point last year and 70% above this stage in 2023. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: 'We have detained the first illegal migrants under our new deal before returning them to France. No gimmicks, just results. 'If you break the law to enter this country, you will face being sent back. When I say I will stop at nothing to secure our borders, I mean it.' The pilot scheme was set up as part of a deal announced by the Prime Minister and French president Mr Macron during his state visit to the UK in July. UK officials aim to make referrals for returns to France within three days of a migrant's arrival by small boat while French authorities will respond within 14 days. This is in exchange for an approved asylum seeker in France to be brought to the UK under a safe route. No figures have been confirmed for how many migrants will be sent back, although reports from France have suggested it could be around 50 a week, a small fraction of the numbers making the crossing in small boats. The Home Secretary said: 'The pilot has now begun, so the first migrants who have arrived on the small boats are now in detention. We will then swiftly make the referrals to France and that process will now start to be able to return people to France. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans for the pilot scheme in July (Leon Neal/PA) 'It's the beginning of the pilot and it will build as well over time, but we're also clear that France is a safe country, so we will robustly defend against any legal challenge that people try. 'We do expect for people to start being returned in a matter of weeks.' The Home Office is expected to launch a campaign in the coming days to make migrants in northern France and elsewhere aware of the new treaty. Ms Cooper added: 'Criminal gangs have spent seven years embedding themselves along our border and it will take time to unravel them, but these detentions are an important step towards undermining their business model and unravelling the false promises they make.' The Home Secretary has acknowledged the accord is not a 'silver bullet' to stop small boat crossings, which are running at record levels so far in 2025. But the Government hopes it will be a turning point as migrants will be sent back across the Channel for the first time. The first small boat migrants have been detained under our landmark UK-France returns deal. This is what happens next 👇 — Home Office (@ukhomeoffice) August 7, 2025 The process for asylum seekers to come to the UK under the 'one in, one out' pilot scheme has also been launched, with adults and families in France able to express an interest in coming to the UK through an online platform set up by the Home Office. They will have to meet suitability criteria, a standard visa application process and security checks. If accepted, they would be given three months in the UK to claim asylum or apply for a visa, and would be subject to the same rules for all asylum seekers not allowed to work, study or have access to benefits. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said just a 'token handful' of migrants had been detained and suggested the pilot scheme would fail. He said: 'Keir Starmer's promise last year to 'smash the gangs' has turned out to be nothing more than a gimmick that didn't work, and this is just the same. 'They are detaining a token handful of arrivals and in return we accept unvetted migrants from France. The whole thing is riddled with loopholes, opt-outs and legal escape routes that will make removals near-impossible.'
