Two men have been charged with murder over a fatal house fire in Bradford in which a mother and her three children died.
Bryonie Gawith, 29, and her three children – Denisty Birtle, 9, Oscar Birtle, 5, and 22-month-old Aubree Birtle – died in the early hours of last Wednesday, after a fire at their home.
Mohammed Shabir, 44, and Calum Sunderland, 25, have both been charged with four counts of murder, West Yorkshire police said.
The two men have been remanded in custody, and are due to appear at Bradford magistrates court on Wednesday.
“The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised West Yorkshire police to charge Mohammed Shabir and Calum Sunderland with murder after a house fire which killed Bryonie Gawith and her three children,” said Amanda McInnes, a senior crown prosecutor for CPS Yorkshire and Humberside.
“Bryonie Gawith, 29, and her three children – Denisty Birtle, 9, Oscar Birtle, 5, and 22-month-old Aubree Birtle – died in the early hours of Wednesday 21 August after their home set on fire.
“Our thoughts remain with the friends and family of Bryonie and her children.
“We remind all concerned that criminal proceedings against the defendants are active and that they have a right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary, or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”
Four other people remain under investigation in connection with the fire.
A 39-year-old man arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder remains in hospital in a critical condition.
A 36-year-old man arrested on Friday on suspicion of murder and attempt murder has been interviewed and released on conditional bail.
A 54-year-old woman and 42-year-old man arrested on Monday on suspicion of assisting an offender have been interviewed and released on bail.
