A teenager has told a murder trial jury of his distress when he learned his older brother had caused a Bradford house fire in which two young children were killed.

Arshed Mahmood, 18, said he was very upset by the deaths of Alina Shah, ten, her brother, Aman, eight.

The children and their mother, Iram, who died days later, were killed after Asjid Mahmood, 22, set fire to their home in Hendford Drive, Pollard Park, shortly after midnight on July 6 last year. Asjid Mahmood admits their manslaughter. He and his brother deny three charges of murder.

Arshed Mahmood told the jury at Bradford Crown Court yesterday he believed Asjid was going to set fire to a car that night.

“I told him he was being stupid. He was just ignoring me. His mind was set,” he said.

The jury has heard that Asjid Mahmood was angry with the children’s father, Zaheer Shah. He and Mr Shah had bought a £20,000 Seat Leon FR to rent out and Asjid Mahmood was paying the loan instalments while it was being driven around by others.

Asjid Mahmood has told the jury he started the blaze with paper and petrol because he wanted to frighten Mr Shah.

Arshed said he filled a can with petrol for his brother at the Texaco garage on Killinghall Road.

He and Asjid, both of Pollard Lane, Undercliffe, Bradford, drove to Hendford Drive.

Arshed said he waited in the car. “I thought it was his own car and he could do what he wants with it.”

He said he listened to the radio and read texts until his brother returned.

“He was panicking. He was saying ‘I’ve done it. I’ve done it. Just drive’.

“I was shocked. I asked him ‘What’s happened?’ He just said ‘I’ve done it’. He was constantly looking around and panicking,” Arshed Mahmood said.

He told the jury his brother did not tell him what he had actually done.

Asjid Mahmood was arrested at the family home shortly afterwards.

Asked by his barrister, Malcolm Swift QC: “Did you know that your brother was going to light a fire near a house or a door?”

Arshed Mahmood replied: “Never”.

Asked if he had wanted anyone to suffer, he said: “No sir, never, ever.”

The trial continues.