2 days ago
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A man has been found guilty of murdering his ex-partner's sister and her three children in a house fire.
Prosecutors said Sharaz Ali, 40, was "motivated by jealousy and fuelled by drink and drugs" when he set fire to Bryonie Gawith's home early on 21 August last year.
Jurors heard that Ali went to the home in Westbury Road, Bradford, aiming to "take revenge" on his ex, Antonia Gawith, who was staying there after ending their "abusive" seven-year relationship earlier that month.
Antonia Gawith managed to escape, but Bryonie Gawith, 29, and her children Denisty Birtle, nine, Oscar Birtle, five, and 22-month-old Aubree Birtle died in the blaze.
Ali told a jury he had no intention of harming others when the house went up in flames, saying: "I didn't want to hurt anyone but myself."
After a trial at Doncaster Crown Court, he was convicted of four counts of murder and a charge of attempting to murder Antonia Gawith.
Calum Sunderland, 26, who went with Ali to the house and kicked the door in for him, was found guilty of the manslaughter of Bryonie and the three children, but cleared of the more serious charges of murder.
Mohammed Shabir, 45, who had been due to go on trial with Ali, died of a heart attack in October after collapsing in prison.
West Yorkshire Police Detective Chief Inspector Stacey Atkinson said: "Bryonie and her three children would still be alive today if it wasn't for the horrific and truly callous actions of Ali and Sunderland that day.
"They left a mum and her three children completely helpless whilst her sister and their auntie watched on in horror.
"Our thoughts and sympathies are with the family, who despite their immense strength of character now face the rest of their lives without them."
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