Two men have been charged with murder after a mother and her three young children were killed in a house fire in Bradford.
Bryonie Gawith, 29, died at the scene while her children Denisty, nine, Oscar, five, and Aubree Birtle, 22 months, died in hospital after the horror blaze on Westbury Road, Bradford on Wednesday, August 21.
West Yorkshire Police said their home was ‘deliberately set alight’ and the incident was being treated as ‘domestic-related’.
Mohammed Shabir, aged 44, and Calum Sunderland, aged 25, both of Keighley, have been charged with four counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.
The pair were arrested over the weekend in connection with the deaths.
Shabir and Sunderland have been remanded in custody and are due to appear at Bradford Magistrates Court tomorrow.
Amanda McInnes, of the Crown Prosecution Service for Yorkshire and Humberside, said: ‘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.
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.
Emergency services were called to the property just after 2am last Wednesday with several fire crews attending the blaze.
Neighbours reported hearing screams coming from the house and the smell of burning rubber.
One neighbour, who wanted to remain anonymous, said: ‘Flames and smoke were coming out of house. We were shocked.
‘There was really thick smoke coming up the street. It filled the whole area. It looked foggy. It was overwhelming.
‘You could hear screaming. I was scared to go up there to see because you don’t know what’s happening. It’s a massive thing that’s gone on. It’s scary.’
Tributes have been paid to the victims, with Bryonie — known as ‘B’ — described as a ‘joyful, bubbly, beautiful woman’ by her devastated family.
A statement released by her family said: ‘Our B was the life and soul of the party, music was a big part of her life, she loved music, singing and dancing, she would always be singing and dancing with Chuch, Oggy and Strawberry.
‘B was always a really happy, joyful, bubbly beautiful woman, who cared for everyone and was loved by everyone, her kids were everything to her, her whole life.
‘Oggy had the cheekiest smile, he was cheeky but he was a shy boy, Strawbs was shy and bashful with big blue eyes and blonde hair and Chuch was a beautiful, confident, outgoing and creative young girl.
‘We are still trying to comprehend what has happened to our beautiful family. No words can describe how we are feeling and no words could ever make up for the profound loss we are now faced with.
‘We are overwhelmed and grateful for all the support and kind words we are receiving, but we ask as a family if we can be given the respect and privacy so we can try to come to terms with the unimaginable sadness and grief of this tragic loss of our beautiful family.
‘Also our thoughts and support for the father of our three babies. Please allow him peace to grieve and come to terms with the loss of his family.’
The children’s father, Jonathan, said he was ‘absolutely distraught’ by the loss of his fiancée Bryonie and their ‘three beautiful children’.
In a statement he said: ‘Bryonie and I were together for a long time, and we had a good life together. She was a beautiful woman and a loving mother to Oscar, Aubree and Denisty.
‘I loved them with all my heart and if I had the chance, I would take their place in a heartbeat. I cannot imagine life without them.
‘They will never be forgotten and will always be in my heart.’