Man set fire that killed 4 to inflict 'maximum pain' on ex, court told

Emergency services at the scene in Bradford (Peter Byrne/PA) Peter Byrne

A man accused of murdering four people in a house fire deliberately set the blaze to inflict "maximum pain" on his former partner, a prosecutor has told jurors. Sharaz Ali (40) is charged with killing his ex-girlfriend's sister Bryonie Gawith (29) and her three children in Bradford in the early hours of August 21 last year.

Prosecutor David Brooke KC delivered his closing speech at Doncaster Crown Court on Friday, arguing Ali was motivated by jealousy and revenge against his former partner Antonia Gawith. The fire killed Bryonie and her children Denisty Birtle (nine), Oscar Birtle (five), and 22-month-old Aubree Birtle.

Brooke told jurors: «Whilst a trial can sometimes show us the best of humanity – think of the actions of those first two police officers who went into that burning house – equally it can expose us to the worst of human behaviour. Little did those officers know they were saving a man who had, moments before, deliberately set fire to a house with a mother and her children upstairs, knowing he was condemning them to, at the very least, really serious harm, if not death. And why? A deep and persistent anger and jealousy towards his former partner Antonia, fuelled by drink and drugs – an action designed to inflict maximum pain on her, both physically, as he soaked her in petrol, and mentally, as he took his revenge on her and her sister.»

Ali's alleged motive

The prosecution alleges Ali poured petrol inside the house, on himself, and on Antonia before igniting it. Antonia had ended her seven-year relationship with Ali, which the prosecution described as "abusive," and was staying at her sister Bryonie's house at the time.

Brooke argued Ali «must have known» the children were home. «He didn't care who was there – he wanted to inflict maximum damage on anyone he could find in that house,» the prosecutor said.

Defendants' accounts

Ali told the trial he intended to kill himself in front of Antonia and only set himself alight. He denies the murder charges and attempting to murder Antonia.

Co-defendant Calum Sunderland (26) told the court Ali had enlisted him to «torch a car» and he did not know there were people in the house. Sunderland also denies the charges.

Background to the fire

Days before the fire, Ali sent text messages to Antonia. In one he wrote: «I know who caused this in my life and deep down you do too,» In another he called her: «You and your whore sister.»

Brooke said the messages showed «clear as could be the anger, the resentment, the self-pity, the drunkenness, the threats.» He told jurors that Antonia had told police Ali «loved the kids … as part of her incomprehension at how he could have done this to them.» But the prosecutor added: «We know from the texts that it didn't stop him threatening her sister and the children.»

A third co-defendant, Mohammed Shabir (45), who was accused of driving Ali to and from the house, died of a heart attack in prison last month. The trial continues.

Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).