Jealous Ex ‘Torches Home’, Killing Mum & Three Children

Firefighters arrived to find the terraced house fully alight. Despite attempts to reach those inside, Bryonie and all three children died.

Read more: Sharaz ali handed whole-life order for quadruple house fire murder

“Motivated by jealousy” after break-up

Mr Brooke said the Crown’s case was that Ali had decided to take revenge on Antonia, who had ended their seven-year relationship shortly before the fire.

“The main mover in what happened was plainly Sharaz Ali,” he told jurors. “Motivated by jealousy and fuelled by drink and drugs, he decided to take revenge regardless of the consequences.”

“When you look at what he did there is only one sensible conclusion: he went to the house intending to kill at least Antonia by burning it down. Tragically, he killed her sister and three small children.”

The court heard that Ali and Antonia’s relationship had been “abusive”, with arguments frequently triggered by Ali’s drinking. Bryonie had encouraged her sister to leave the relationship on several occasions.

Break-up triggered while on holiday

Jurors were told that Antonia had finally decided to end the relationship while she was on holiday with Bryonie and the children in August last year. Ali had phoned her while drunk, sparking “yet another argument”, the court heard.

When she returned to the UK, she chose to stay with Bryonie temporarily while Ali moved out of her home. But prosecutors say Ali continued to bombard her with calls and texts in the following days, becoming increasingly aggressive.

On the night of the fire, Ali allegedly exchanged calls with Sunderland before texting Antonia shortly after midnight asking what time she finished work. Further messages followed that were, according to prosecutors, “more aggressive”.

Only Antonia survived

Antonia, who had been sleeping upstairs, managed to escape the blaze by jumping from a first-floor window. She suffered injuries but survived.

Her sister and her three nieces and nephew were trapped inside.

The charred remains of the house later became a focal point for floral tributes, with neighbours describing the children as “lovely”, “lively” and “always smiling”.

Ali and Sunderland both deny murder and attempted murder. Defence teams are expected to challenge the prosecution’s account and the roles each man is alleged to have played.

The trial continues.