Four more arrested after mum, 29, and children killed in Bradford house fire as ‘deliberate’ blaze engulfed their home
COPS have arrested four more people in connection with a fatal house fire in Bradford that claimed the lives of a mum and three children.
Bryonie Gawith, 29, Denisty-mai Birtle, nine, Oscar Birtle, five and one-year-old Aubree Birtle were named as the victims of the blaze in Bradford, West Yorkshire, last week.
West Yorkshire Police today confirmed four more people had been arrested after the tragedy at the Westbury Road home.
A 25-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder following police enquiries in the Keighley area in the early hours of this morning.
Two other people, a 54-year-old woman and a 42-year-old man were also arrested from the same address on suspicion of assisting an offender.
A 44-year-old man was then arrested on suspicion of murder and attempt murder shortly after 10am this morning after he attended at a police station.
An initial investigation showed the fire in Bradford was deliberately set and is believed to be a domestic-related crime, police said.
It comes as two men, aged 36 and 45, were arrested on suspicion of murder during raids in the Keighley area of the city.
The 36-year-old man remains in custody while the 45-year-old was released with no further action and eliminated from the investigation.
Meanwhile, a 39-year-old man who was arrested on Wednesday remains in hospital, where his condition is described as critical.
West Yorkshire Police revealed on Friday that he was the ex-partner of someone who was visiting the house at the time.
Victim Bryonie’s devastated family paid tribute to her and her children, describing the mum as a “joyful, bubbly, beautiful woman”.
Loved ones said: “Our B was the life and soul of the party, music was a big part of her life, she loved music, singing and dancing, she would always be singing and dancing with Chuch, Oggy and Strawberry [the children].
“B was always a really happy, joyful, bubbly beautiful woman, who cared for everyone and was loved by everyone, her kids were everything to her, her whole life.
“Oggy had the cheekiest smile, he was cheeky but he was a shy boy, Strawbs was shy and bashful with big blue eyes and blonde hair and Chuch was a beautiful, confident, outgoing and creative young girl.
“We are still trying to comprehend what has happened to our beautiful family. No words can describe how we are feeling and no words could ever make up for the profound loss we are now faced with.”
Jonathan, the children’s dad, expressed his “absolutely distraught” state following the “sudden loss.”
Uniformed cops went to the address last month for an unrelated reason, authorities said.
The family, including Bryonie’s partner Jonathan, continues to get support from specialist officers.
The force said: “They are understandably devastated at their loss and we ask that their privacy is respected.”
West Yorkshire Police said detectives from the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team are continuing to appeal for anyone with any information in relation to the fire to come forward.
Contact can be made by using Live Chat online or by calling 101, quoting Operation Pockliffe.
Information can also be given anonymously via the independent Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.