The night was quiet on Westbury Road, Bradford, until a calculated act of malice shattered the peace. Just before 2 a.m., a car arrived carrying a chilling intent – and a seven-litre can of petrol. Inside the house, Bryonie Gawith and her children slept, unaware of the horror about to unfold.
Antonia Gawith, Bryonie’s sister, had recently finished her shift at Tesco and was awake with Bryonie when a violent intrusion shattered the stillness. A door splintered under a forceful kick, and a figure in a tracksuit fled as Sharaz Ali stormed inside, immediately dousing Antonia with petrol. A desperate struggle ensued, a fight for survival against a terrifying assault.
Antonia managed to escape, screaming for help, hoping Ali would pursue her. But her relief quickly turned to renewed horror as she realized he remained inside, moving towards the bedrooms. She raced back, witnessing Bryonie bravely attempt to fight off Ali as he ascended the stairs, even managing to wrestle the petrol container from his grasp.
But it was too late. Ali ignited a lighter, and flames erupted, engulfing himself, the stairs, and Bryonie. Trapped outside, Antonia frantically tried to force open the back door, but it was jammed, her desperate kicks proving futile. The house, once a haven, was becoming a raging inferno.
Ring doorbell footage captured the harrowing scene – Ali urging an accomplice to break down the door, then the frantic escape of Antonia, and finally, the fire exploding into life. Neighbours were helpless against the intense heat and flames, their attempts to intervene thwarted by the sheer power of the blaze.
Police arrived within minutes, but the house was already consumed. The scene was devastating. Inside, Bryonie, nine-year-old Denisty, five-year-old Oscar, and twenty-two-month-old Aubree were found still in their beds, victims of a senseless act of violence. The fire had claimed their young lives.
Sharaz Ali, ironically caught in his own destructive act, was pulled from the burning house severely injured and placed in a medically induced coma for months. Upon recovery, he remained silent during police questioning, offering no explanation for his actions.
The prosecution argued that Ali was driven by jealousy and fueled by alcohol and drugs, seeking revenge on his ex-partner, Antonia, with a reckless disregard for anyone else in the house. Text messages revealed a torrent of anger, resentment, and threats directed at Antonia and her sister, painting a picture of a man consumed by bitterness.
Evidence presented to the court suggested Ali was aware the children were home and deliberately targeted the entire family, intending to inflict maximum harm. The jury ultimately found Ali guilty of four counts of murder and one of attempted murder, bringing a measure of justice for the unimaginable loss suffered by the Gawith family.
The tragedy also involved Calum Sunderland, who was cleared of murder but convicted of four counts of manslaughter for his role in the break-in. Another individual, Mohammed Shabir, died of a heart attack in prison while awaiting trial. The echoes of that night on Westbury Road serve as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of hatred and violence.
