By Tony O’Reilly-
A man accused of murdering his former partner’s sister and her three children in a house fire refused treatment from paramedics after being rescued from the blaze, a court heard.
In a horrifyingly shocking case. prosecutors say Sharaz Ali set fire to the home of Bryonie Gawith and her children in a botched revenge attack on his former partner – Bryonie’s sister, Antonia Gawith – who was staying there after ending their relationship.
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Jurors heard that Ali was rescued from the fire by the police officers who arrived at the scene first and managed to break the back door down and pull him out.
However, by the time firefighters arrived, it was too late to save Bryonie Gawith, 29, and the three children, who were trapped upstairs.
Denisty Birtle, 9; Oscar Birtle, 5; and 22-month-old Aubree Birtle, were all found in their beds and pronounced dead at hospital, while Ms Gawith died at the scene.
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Doncaster Crown Court heard on Wednesday that Ali was arrested at the scene of the fire and refused treatment from paramedics.
A statement from PC Wilson, who attended the blaze in the early hours of August 21 last year, said Ali had burns all over his body, his skin was peeling away and his face and hands were black.
He added that Ali was rejecting oxygen and fluids and put his head in his hands when he was arrested.
Medical teams eventually managed to calm Ali down and give him oxygen before he was taken to Leeds General Infirmary, the court heard.
Ali continued to refuse treatment, refusing anyone to touch him, but a doctor “made the decision to override this and gave him some drugs to knock him unconscious”, the court heard.
Jurors have heard Ali was placed into an induced coma for months before his recovery began.
Prosecutors say Ali was “motivated by jealousy and fuelled by drink and drugs” when he went to Bryonie Gawith’s house on Westbury Road, Bradford, where Antonia Gawith was staying after ending their “abusive” seven-year relationship, earlier that month.
Last week, Antonia Gawith told the trial she came downstairs after hearing a noise and saw Ali force his way into the house with another man and then pour petrol around the house and on her.
She said she ran outside thinking he would follow her, but when he did not, she went back and saw Ali climbing the stairs.
He was kicked down by her sister, who had woken up, the court heard.
Ms Gawith said she saw Ali use a lighter to start the fire, before the front door swung shut, and said when she managed to open it, there was “fire everywhere”.
Ali, 40, of no fixed address, and Calum Sunderland, 26, of Calton Street, Keighley, deny murdering Bryonie Gawith and her children and attempting to murder and attempted GBH of Antonia Gawith.
Mohammed Shabir, 45, who had been due to go on trial with them, died of a heart attack in hospital last month after collapsing in prison.
Prosecutors say Shabir drove to and from the house while Sunderland kicked the door in.
The trial continues.
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