Tributes have been paid to a "happy, joyful, bubbly beautiful woman" who died with her three children in a house fire in Bradford. Bryonie Gawith, 29, and her daughter Denisty Birtle, nine, son Oscar Birtle, five, and daughter Aubree Birtle, 22 months, died in the blaze on Westbury Road, on Wednesday. A 39-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder and remains in hospital with critical injuries.
Police have confirmed he was the ex-partner of a woman who had been visiting the family. West Yorkshire Police earlier said officers believed the incident was "deliberate" and "domestic" in nature and said it was keen to address speculation. A spokesperson for the force added: "Uniformed officers had visited the address last month due to an unrelated matter.
"Therefore, we will not be making a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct." They added that specialist officers continued to support the family who are "understandably devastated at their loss" and asked for the family's privacy to be respected. The force also released two statements from Ms Gawith's partner and family.
The children's father, Jonathan, said he was "absolutely distraught at the sudden loss of my fiancée, Bryonie and our three beautiful children". “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 thei.