A woman has recounted the heart-wrenching moment she realized she couldn’t save her sister and three young children from a deadly house fire.
The tragedy, which prosecutors say was deliberately set by her sister’s ex-partner, has left a family shattered and a community in shock.
A Night of Jealousy and Violence
Sharaz Ali, 40, is accused of starting the fire at Bryonie Gawith’s home in the early hours of August 21 last year.
Prosecutors say he was “motivated by jealousy and fuelled by drink and drugs” when he targeted the family of four.
His alleged aim was revenge against Bryonie’s sister, Antonia Gawith, following the end of their seven-year abusive relationship earlier that month.
A Sister’s Desperate Plea
During her emotional interview with police, shown to jurors at Doncaster Crown Court, Antonia broke down as she described trying to save her sister and nieces and nephew.
She explained the terrifying moments as flames engulfed the home and her family became trapped inside.
After finishing her shift at Tesco, Antonia had been in Bryonie’s bedroom when Ali messaged her, accusing her of being with another man.
Bryonie told her to ignore him and tried to sleep.
“I never thought he’d come and do that. Why would he do that?” she said.
The Attack Begins
Antonia told officers she heard the house’s ring doorbell and started walking downstairs.
Suddenly, the door was kicked in, and Ali, along with another man, entered.
The second man ran off immediately, leaving Ali alone.
“He started pouring petrol on me. I was saying, ‘please don’t, I love you, I’ll come back, don’t do this,’” she said.
She tried desperately to stop him, begging him to leave, but Ali appeared “so different… just crazy,” she told police.
Racing Against Flames
Antonia described a frantic struggle as she tried to wrestle the petrol and lighter from Ali and run out of the house.
She recalled seeing her sister fighting him, but in the chaos, he managed to ignite the fire.
“I seen him set on fire, and all the stairs, and my sister,” she said.
The flames quickly spread, and Antonia ran around to the back door, which was jammed. Kicking it while screaming for her sister, she could only watch helplessly.
Bryonie had called 999 while trying to escape, and Antonia used the discarded phone to plead for emergency help.
“I was just screaming, trying to get back in the house and I couldn’t get in. I couldn’t save them,” she tearfully told police.
Emergency Services Arrive Too Late
When the police broke through the front door, Ali was pulled out.
By the time firefighters arrived, it was tragically too late for Bryonie and her three children: Denisty, nine, Oscar, five, and 22-month-old Aubree.
Antonia, still covered in petrol, was prevented from entering the house for her own safety despite her desperate pleas.
The Court Case
Ali, along with Calum Sunderland, 26, who allegedly kicked the door in, are charged with murdering Bryonie and the children, and attempting to murder Antonia.
Another co-defendant, Mohammed Shabir, 45, who had been due to stand trial, died of a heart attack in prison last month. Ali and Sunderland deny all charges.
The trial continues, as the court seeks to unravel the full story of that horrific night.
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