Bryonie Gawith, 29, Denisty Birtle, nine, Oscar Birtle, five, and 22-month-old Aubree Birtle died following the blaze at their home in Westbury Road, Bradford , in the early hours of August 21. On Thursday, Mohammed Shabir, 44, of Alice Street, Keighley, and Calum Sunderland, 25, of Calton Street, Keighley, made their first appearance at a crown court. Advertisement Advertisement Did you know with a Digital subscription to Yorkshire Post, you can get access to all of our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more.
Both defendants are charged with murdering Ms Gawith and the three children, and attempting to murder Antonia Gawith. Prosecutor Matthew Bean told Bradford Crown Court there was a third person who was “in a coma”. “He is, at the moment, very unwell and the expectation is that he may not recover,” Mr Bean said.
“He may but at the moment there is a degree of uncertainty. There is a possibility there will be two further defendants, perhaps three, on different offences but linked.” Shabir and Sunderland, who appeared on a video link from prison, were not asked to enter pleas to the charges.
They were remanded in custody until their next appearance at the same court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on September 25. Advertisement Advertisement Judge Jonathan Rose, the Recorder of Bradford, set a provisional trial date of March 4. Mr Bean said the trial was expected to last between eight and 10 days but could be.