Murder accused refused treatment at scene - trial

Bryonie Gawith and her three children all died in the fire in August 2024

A man accused of murdering a mother and her three children in a house fire refused medical treatment at the scene of the blaze, a court has heard.

Bryonie Gawith, 29 and her children Denisty, nine, Oscar, five, and 22-month-old Aubree Birtle all died in the fire at their home on Westbury Road in Bradford in August 2024.

Sharaz Ali, 40 and Calum Sunderland, 26, deny four counts of murder and the attempted murder of Bryonie's sister, Antonia Gawith, and attempting to cause her grievous bodily harm.

Doncaster Crown Court heard a statement from a police officer who attended at the scene and said Mr Ali was conscious but had burns all over his body, most noticeably on his hands.

PC Henry Wilson said Mr Ali was unable to speak but was fighting treatment from ambulance staff and was refusing oxygen and fluids.

In the statement, PC Wilson described Mr Ali putting his head in his hands after being told he was being arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.

The jury was told the co-defendant was taken to Leeds General Infirmary and was described as being in a critical condition and having burns on 70% of his body.

He spent several months in an induced coma before his recovery began.

Tributes were left outside the scene of the fire

Mr Ali remained silent during an 11-minute interview by police officers at Bradford Royal Infirmary, where he was being treated, the court heard.

In a prepared statement read by his solicitor, the co-defendant told police he had no memory of the incident.

Earlier in the trial the court heard that Mr Ali was the former partner of Antonia Gawith, who was staying at the house with her sister Bryonie at the time.

Doncaster Crown Court also heard a statement from a police officer who arrested the other accused, Calum Sunderland, in Keighley.

PC Elliott Ward said Mr Sunderland was found "crouching in the foetal position" in the corner of a cellar, covered in cobwebs.

The officer described Calum Sunderland as being "visibly upset" and crying as he was told he was being arrested on suspicion of four counts of murder.

A third defendant, 45-year-old Mohammed Shabir, had also been due to stand trial for the murders, but he died of a heart attack while in custody last month.

The trial continues.

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