Bradford house fire: Two men deny murdering ‘loving’ mother and her three young children

Two men have denied murdering a “loving” mother and her three young children who died in a Bradford house fire.

Mohammed Shabir, 44, of Alice Street, Keighley, and Calum Sunderland, 25, of Calton Street, Keighley, both appeared at Bradford Crown Court charged with the murders of Bryonie Gawith, 29, and her children Denisty, nine, Oscar, five and Aubree Birtle, 22 months.

The family of four died following the blaze at their home on Westbury Road in Bradford the early hours of August 21 this year. Bryonie Gawith died at the scene and her three children died from their injuries in hospital.

The defendants Shabir and Sunderland are due to go on trial in March and were also charged with attempting to murder Gawith’s sister, Antonia Gawith.

They appeared via a video link from prison for the hearing at Bradford Crown Court today, where they entered not guilty pleas to each of the five charges and were remanded to custody.

The court heard a man arrested at the scene of the fire, described as the “main suspect”, was “still unconscious” in hospital and will not be ready for trial “even if he does wake up”.

West Yorkshire Police previously confirmed the man in hospital is the ex-partner of a woman who was visiting the family.

In a statement issued by the police after their deaths, the family of the victims said the loss of Bryonie, who they called “our B” and the children, referred to as “Chuch, Oggy and Strawberry”, had brought “unimaginable sadness and grief”.

Paying tribute, the family statement reads: “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, Oggy and Strawberry.”

“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.”

The children’s father, Jonathan Birtle, also released a statement which read: “I am absolutely distraught at the sudden loss of my fiancee, Bryonie, and our three beautiful children.

“Bryonie and I were together for a long time, and we had a good life together.“She was a beautiful woman and a loving mother to Oscar, Aubree and Denisty.“I loved them with all my heart and if I had the chance, I would take their place in a heartbeat. I cannot imagine life without them.”

The community were also devastated by the deaths and left floral tributes at the scene in August.

One bunch of flowers read: “Bryonie and your three angels gone away too soon. You will be missed, sleep tight.”

At the time, Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “The deaths of Bryonie Gawith and children Denisty, Oscar and Aubree Birtle following a house fire in Bradford are heart-breaking.

“My thoughts, and those of everyone across West Yorkshire, are with their family, friends, loved ones and the wider community.”