Our live updates have come to an end - you can read more about the sentencing of Sharaz Ali and Calum Sunderland here.

• Sharaz Ali, 40, is given a whole-life order after being convicted of murdering Bryonie Gawith and her three children, and attempting to murder his ex-partner Antonia Gawith
• Calum Sunderland, 27, is sentenced to life with a minimum of 18 years after being found guilty of manslaughter
• Mr Justice Hilliard KC said Ali was the "sole author of his predicament"
• He said Sunderland posed a "significant risk of serious harm to the public"
• Bryonie's sister, Antonia, said "what haunts me the most is the attack was meant for me"

Image source, PA Media

In the wake of the tragedy, in August 2024, the school attended by two of the children, nine-year-old Denisty and eight-year-old Oscar, described them as "lovely pupils who embraced school life".

Joanne Poole, head teacher of Home Farm Primary in south-west Bradford, said: "They were happy children, full of character and had bright futures ahead of them that we tragically will not get to see."

Neighbours of the victims told the BBC of the impact the fire had had on them.

One of them, Wayne Stephenson, jumped over a fence and attempted to get into the house to rescue those trapped inside.

Stephenson said he "dropped to his knees" as the emergency services brought the bodies of the three young children out, describing it as "the worst thing he had ever seen".

Another neighbour, who asked not to be named, said some people had moved away because of the fire.

"We have to look at the house all the time, and you know what happened," she said.

"A lot of people won't talk about it because they are still upset."

Emma Glasbey
Home and Social Affairs Correspondent, BBC Yorkshire

Emergency services staff have been talking to us about the trauma attached to the case, not only for the relatives of the family but also the professionals who handled the aftermath and criminal proceedings.

Det Ch Insp Stacey Atkinson, of West Yorkshire Police, called it an "incredibly emotive, challenging investigation".

"Personally, but I think I speak for the team as well, it's one that will stay with us well beyond our policing careers because of the circumstances," she said.

"No sentence will ever bring back Bryonie, Denisty, Oscar and Aubree and the family now have to face a lifetime of suffering.

"As police officers, unfortunately we deal with traumatic incidents on a regular basis but none as traumatic as this."

Speaking outside court Bryonie's sister Antonia said "no sentence no matter how long can ever heal the pain they caused".

Addressing reporters she said: "Today, the judge sentenced the monsters who killed our beautiful family, Bryonie, and her three children Denisty, Oscar, and Aubree.

"No sentence can bring back their laughter, their hugs, their voices, their love.

"No sentence can bring back four hearts that should still be beating.

"Every day our hearts ache with emptiness, every day we feel the weight of their absence, the joy we lost, the moments that will never come.

"Every day we remember them, the love, the light, the life they gave so briefly, so beautifully.

"We carry them in every heart beat, every tear, every memory, every act of love.

"They live in us, they live through us, they will never be gone.

"Bryonie, Denisty, Oscar and Aubree you are forever loved, forever ours, forever remembered, forever young."

CCTV footage released by police after Ali and Sunderland were convicted shows the pair in the moments before they started the fire that killed Bryonie Gawith and her three children.

In one clip Sunderland can be seen filling up a canister with petrol just 40 minutes before the fire was started.

Later Ring doorbell footage captures the pair pulling up on Westbury Road and getting out of the car, before Ali tells Sunderland to "kick" the door in.

Body worn camera footage also shows the moment police arrested Sunderland after finding him hiding in a basement.

When someone is given a life sentence, a judge must impose a minimum term they must serve in prison before being eligible to apply for parole.

But, in the most serious cases of murder, a judge may pass a ‘whole life order’ meaning the offender will never be released from prison.

As of 31 March 2025, there were around 70 whole-life prisoners, according to the Sentencing Council.

Image source, West Yorkshire Police

Reacting to the sentencing, Amanda McInnes, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS Yorkshire & Humberside, has released the following statement.

"This was a devastating case in which a violent man’s jealousy led to the most unimaginable consequences.

"Sharaz Ali showed no regard for the lives he destroyed that night.

"His former partner had made the courageous decision to leave an abusive relationship, and his response was to unleash a catastrophic act of revenge that killed four innocent people.

"Calum Sunderland willingly played his part in this tragedy and it is right that he too is held responsible for the consequences of his actions."

David Spereall
at Doncaster Crown Court

Mr Justice Hilliard KC rises and leaves the court and the sentencing is now complete.

David Spereall
at Doncaster Crown Court

The defendants have now left the dock and the judge is praising the police officers and others emergency services for the "quite exceptional" way they responded to the blaze and tried to save those inside the house.

He again pays tribute to the "bravery" of Antonia and Bryonie Gawith.

Calum Sunderland, 27, is given a life sentence with a minimum term of 18 years in prison.

Mr Justice Hilliard KC has sentenced Sharaz Ali, 40, to a whole-life order, meaning he will never be released from prison.

David Spereall
at Doncaster Crown Court

Turning to Sunderland the judge says the "risk of death and destruction was so obvious, I am sure it must have been obvious to him".

He adds: "He was agreeing to do it to get money to fund his addiction to crack cocaine."

The judge says it is a "positive development" that Sunderland has come off drugs while in custody, but believes he remains a "significant risk of serious harm to the public".

David Spereall
at Doncaster Crown Court

The judge says Ali was motivated by "revenge and sexual jealousy" and that he is convinced there was "substantial" pre-meditation and planning behind the murders.

Noting the defendant's severe injuries he says his life would be difficult whether he was in custody or not.

"He is the sole author of his own predicament," he concludes.

"It was part of a plan to wipe out a whole family."

David Spereall
at Doncaster Crown Court

Noting Sunderland's refusal to answer questions under cross-examination during the trial, and describing his account that he thought he was going to burn a car as "untruthful", the judge says Sunderland's regret is "not yet complete".

David Spereall
at Doncaster Crown Court

Sharaz Ali is being cared for on the social care unit at HMP Doncaster, the court is told.

The judge notes that his "life expectancy must have been shortened" as a result of his injuries.

David Spereall
at Doncaster Crown Court

Mr Justice Hilliard KC says that after pouring petrol on Antonia Gawith, Ali had tried to get to the upstairs of the house to "see if there was a man on the premises".

Bryonie Gawith stopped him from doing so, however, because her children were upstairs.

"There was no way she was going to run out of the house and desert her children," he adds.

"She acted with immense courage. I hope that will be how her family remember her."

He adds that Bryonie's three children were seen by Ali as "acceptable collateral damage".

David Spereall
at Doncaster Crown Court

The judge says Ali texted Antonia Gawith while he and Sunderland were on their way to Westbury Road on the night of the murders.

Ali used a derogatory misogynistic slur to describe Antonia and Bryonie, and insulted their mother.

Claiming that he was in bed at the time, he accused her of being with "some other man".

David Spereall
at Doncaster Crown Court

The judge says he is sure that Ali was "physically abusive and controlling" of Antonia Gawith during their relationship.

He notes the police were "never involved" during this time and that Ali's behaviour was exacerbated by his drink and drug habit.