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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Dave Higgens

Man accused of murdering family in house fire found dead

Emergency services in Westbury Road, Bradford, following the house fire (PA) - (PA Archive)

A man accused murdering a mother and her three children in a house fire has been found dead.

Bryonie Gawith, 29; Denisty Birtle, nine; Oscar Birtle, five; and 22-month-old Aubree Birtle died after the blaze at their home in Westbury Road, Bradford, in the early hours of August 21 last year.

Mohammed Shabir, 45, of Alice Street, Keighley, was one of three men due to go on trial accused of their murders later this year.

Mohammed Shabir (second left) and Calum Sunderland (right) appearing at Bradford Magistrates’ Court (Elizabeth Cook/PA) (PA Archive)

On Thursday, a Prison Service spokesperson said: “Mohammed Shabir died on 24 September 2025 in hospital while on remand at HMP Leeds.

“As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate.”

Shabir had denied the murder charges along with co-accused Sharaz Ali, 40, of no fixed address, and Calum Sunderland, 26, of Calton Street, Keighley.

They also denied attempting to murder and attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to Ms Gawith’s sister Antonia Gawith.

The trial has been fixed for November 17 at Bradford Crown Court.

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