Trial set for man accused of attacking fire victim

A man accused of strangling the mother of his three children, all of whom later died in a unrelated house fire, has been deemed fit to stand trial.

Jonathan Birtle is said to have attacked his former partner Bryonie Gawith, 29, in July 2024.

Gawith died later that same year in a fire at her home in Bradford on 21 August, along with the couple's three children, Denisty Birtle, nine, Oscar Birtle, five, and 22-month-old Aubree Birtle.

Birtle, 34, who denies the offences, had originally been due to stand trial in January, but the case was adjourned after the death of Gawith and their three children. A fresh trial date has now been fixed for 10 January 2028.

In December, Sharaz Ali was given a whole-life order after he was found guilty of killing Gawith and her three children after setting fire to the home in a revenge attack when Bryonie's sister, Antonia, ended their relationship.

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