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Two charged with murder over deaths of woman and her three children in Bradford fire

3 months ago
Two charged with murder over deaths of woman and her three children in Bradford fire

Two men have been charged with the murder of a woman and her three children in a fire at their home in Bradford.  

Mohammed Shabir, 44, and Calum Sunderland, 25, both from Keighley, West Yorkshire, have been jointly charged with four counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.

The pair have been remanded in custody to appear at Bradford Magistrates’ Court tomorrow (Wednesday, 28 August).

Bryonie Gawith, 29 who was also known as B, along with her three children – Denisty Birtle, nine, Oscar Birtle, five, and 22-month-old Aubree Birtle – died in the early hours of Wednesday 21 August.

Image:
Denisty, Oscar and Aubree Birtle

Denisty Birtle (right) and Oscar Birtle
Image:
Denisty Birtle (right) and Oscar Birtle

Police believe their home on Westbury Road, Bradford, was deliberately set alight.

Specialist officers have been supporting the family, including Bryonie’s partner Jonathan.

West Yorkshire Police said four other people remain under investigation. They are:

– a 39-year-old man, arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder, who remains in hospital in a critical condition.

– a 36-year-old man, who was arrested on Friday on suspicion of murder and attempted murder, who has been interviewed and released on conditional bail.

– a 54-year-old woman and 42-year-old man, arrested on Monday on suspicion of assisting an offender, have also been interviewed and released on bail.

Emergency services in Westbury Road, Bradford, following a house fire where four people, including three children, died. Pic: PA
Image:
A fire engulfed a house on Westbury Road, Bradford, killing four people, including three children. Pic: PA

Emergency services in Westbury Road, Bradford, following a house fire where four people, including three children, died. Two girls aged nine and one, and a five-year-old boy, were taken to hospital but all died from their injuries, while a 29-year-old woman also died at the scene. Police believe the fire was started deliberately and the incident was domestic-related. A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder. Picture date: Wednesday August 21, 2024.
Image:
Pic: PA

Following the deaths last week, police issued a statement on behalf of the family which said the loss of “our B” and the children, referred to as “Chuch, Oggy and Strawberry”, had brought “unimaginable sadness and grief”.

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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.

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

“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.

“They will never be forgotten and will always be in my heart.”

Amanda McInnes, from the Crown Prosecution Service for Yorkshire and Humberside, said: “Our thoughts remain with the friends and family of Bryonie and her children.

“We remind all concerned that criminal proceedings against the defendants are active and that they have a right to a fair trial.”