Overview
- Opening statements at Doncaster Crown Court set out the case against Sharaz Ali, 40, and Calum Sunderland, 26, who plead not guilty to four murders and the attempted murder of Antonia Gawith.
- Prosecutor David Brooke KC told jurors the men drove from Keighley just before 2am and stopped to buy a seven‑litre can of petrol en route to the Westbury Road address.
- Ring doorbell video was described as capturing Ali telling Sunderland to kick in the front door before Ali entered with petrol, after which Sunderland and driver Mohammed Shabir left the scene.
- Ali was pulled from the burning house badly injured, while Bryonie Gawith, 29, died at the scene and her children Denisty, 9, Oscar, 5, and Aubree, 22 months, later died in hospital; a pathologist found the children likely lost consciousness rapidly from fumes.
- Jurors heard the alleged motive centers on Ali’s recent breakup with Antonia after a seven‑year relationship, with recovered texts presented as evidence; Shabir died of a reported heart attack in custody in September, and the trial is expected to run for about four weeks.