UK: Young man given life sentence for killing ex-partners' family in Bradford

Sharaz Ali was motivated by jealousy and fueled by drugs and alcohol when he set fire to the house in Bradford at 2am on 21 August last year, a jury heard.

The prosecution said he intended to “take revenge” after his former partner, Antonia Gawith, ended an “abusive” seven-year relationship. Ali was also found guilty of the attempted murder of Antonia Gawith.

Gawith was staying at the home of her sister Bryonie Gawith. Bryonie, 29, and her children, Denisty Birtle, nine, Oscar Birtle, five, and 22-month-old Aubree Birtle were trapped upstairs and died in the fire.

Doncaster Crown Court heard Ali wanted to “inflict maximum pain” with the fire and “did not care who was there," although prosecutors said he must have known the children were at home.

“Knowing they died because someone wanted to kill me is a torment I can never put into words,” she told a sentencing hearing on Friday, said Antonia Gawith about her ex-boyfriend, Sharaz Ali.

Calum Sunderland, 27, a crack-cocaine addict who went with Ali to the house and kicked in the door for him, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 18 years for manslaughter.

The court heard Ali blamed Bryonie for the break-up. In one threatening message to Antonia, Ali said, "I know who has caused this in my life … Better start praying, cos now I’m going to get involved in her life and everyone is going to feel it. I promise you one thing, they’re going to regret it.”

Judge, Mr. Justice Hilliard, said Ali will never get out of prison as his intention was to “wipe out a family."

"Ali played with fire, and four people died as a result.”

Ali, a drug dealer, was rescued from the fire by police officers but suffered serious injuries and was initially not expected to survive. He was put on trial last year after coming out of a coma and recovering enough to be charged.

Jurors were told that Ali suffered burns to 70% of his body, that two fingers on each of his hands had been amputated, and that he still used oxygen and had difficulty speaking.