Overview
- Jurors heard that Sharaz Ali, 40, and Calum Sunderland, 26, are on trial for the murders of Bryonie Gawith and her three children and the attempted murder of Antonia Gawith after a house fire on August 21 last year.
- Prosecutor David Brooke KC argued Ali poured petrol inside the home and on Antonia before igniting a catastrophic blaze, saying he must have known children were inside and did not care who was there.
- The court was told Ali had sent threatening, resentful messages to Antonia in the days before the fire, which the prosecution cite as evidence of motive.
- Ring doorbell footage described in court was said to show Sunderland arriving with a petrol can and a lighter and kicking in the door, while he claims he thought he was there to torch a car and did not know people were inside.
- Ali testified he intended to set only himself alight and his counsel cited drink and cocaine use, while both defendants deny the charges and the trial continues; a third man, Mohammed Shabir, died in prison last month.