Inquest to open into deaths of family in Bradford house fire

The city and a neighbourhood were left in shock when a family died after a fire at a property in Westbury Road, Bradford on August 21 in the early hours of the morning.

Bryonie Gawith, 29, was found dead at the scene and her three children, Denisty-Mai Birtle, nine, Oscar Birtle, five, and Aubree Birtle, 22 months, all died later in hospital.

Bryonie and friend Abigail Brooksbank (Image: UGC)

Emergency services were called to the scene at around 2am that day and a police cordon was put in place as enquiries into the circumstances of the blaze took place.

West Yorkshire Police launched a murder investigation later on August 21 and the force said it believed the matter was domestic-related.

The force moved to address rumours online and said a 39-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder at the scene was "the ex-partner of a woman who was visiting the family".

The scene of the fire on Westbury Road, pictured last Monday (Image: Newsquest)

A spokesperson for police told the Telegraph & Argus today that he remains in hospital in a critical condition.

The road was still closed the following day and people descended on the area in large numbers to leave touching tributes to the family.

All four family members have been listed for inquest openings at Bradford Coroners' Court tomorrow morning, to be heard by Senior Coroner Martin Fleming.

It begins with Ms Gawith, followed by Denisty-Mai, Oscar, and Aubree, at 10-minute intervals.

In a statement issued via the force two weeks ago, the family of the victims said the loss of “our B” and the children, referred to as “Chuch, Oggy and Strawberry”, had brought “unimaginable sadness and grief”.

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.

“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.”

After lifting the cordon, the police moved floral tributes to the front of the home on Westbury Road (Image: Newsquest)

Two men - Mohammed Shabir, 44, of Alice Street, Keighley, and Calum Sunderland, 25, of Calton Street, Keighley - appeared at Bradford Crown Court last Thursday, both charged with four counts of murder and one of attempted murder.

The latter charge relates to Antonia Gawith.

They had appeared at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates' Court the day before but the case was moved to Crown Court due to the severity of the charges.

Mohammed Shabir (second left) and Calum Sunderland (right) pictured at Bradford Magistrates' Court last Wednesday (Image: Elizabeth Cook/PA)

Prosecutor Matthew Bean told Bradford Crown Court there was a third person who was “in a coma”.

He added: “He is, at the moment, very unwell and the expectation is that he may not recover.

“He may, but at the moment there is a degree of uncertainty.

“There is a possibility there will be two further defendants, perhaps three, on different offences but linked.”

Shabir and Sunderland, who appeared on a video link from prison, were not asked to enter pleas to the charges.

They were remanded in custody until their next appearance at the same court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on September 25.

Judge Jonathan Rose, the Recorder of Bradford, set a provisional trial date of March 4 next year.

A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police said four other people, including the 39-year-old, remain under investigation.