UK - Bradford. 3 children (1, 5 & 9) and a woman killed in house fire. *Man arrested on suspicion of murder* (21 Aug '24)

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Birtle, 34, is on remand in custody after being charged with strangling the mother-of-three and stealing her phone at her home on 27 July. However, Birtle is not being treated as a suspect in the house fire and detectives are understood to believe he is not involved in any way.

The scaffolder indicated that he would plead not guilty to the offences when he appeared at Bradford crown court on 30 July. He is next due to appear in court on Tuesday.

Fatal Bradford fire may be result of dispute involving family member, police believe
 
If this case doesn't demonstrate why you can never assume anything in unresolved true crime, then I don't know what does! When I went to bed last night I was certain that Jonny Birtle must have been the awful 39 year old man who annihilated an entire family. Only to learn today that in reality, it's a lot more complicated! Now I'm left feeling... awkwardly sympathetic towards him?
Yes, he is accused of terrible crimes and deserves the relevant scorn and treatment from the justice system. Just because his alleged victim is no longer alive to seek justice does not mean that he should not have his day in court to answer the charges.
But the man has just lost all 3 of his young children in a deliberate house fire! And there was nothing he could do to protect them and he now cannot grieve their loss properly, or at all because (rightly or wrongly) he is locked in a prison cell awaiting trial. He must be inconsolable! I never thought I'd feel sorry for an alleged wife beater, but here we are!

MOO
 
bobbymkii said:
If this case doesn't demonstrate why you can never assume anything in unresolved true crime, then I don't know what does! When I went to bed last night I was certain that Jonny Birtle must have been the awful 39 year old man who annihilated an entire family. Only to learn today that in reality, it's a lot more complicated! Now I'm left feeling... awkwardly sympathetic towards him?
Yes, he is accused of terrible crimes and deserves the relevant scorn and treatment from the justice system. Just because his alleged victim is no longer alive to seek justice does not mean that he should not have his day in court to answer the charges.
But the man has just lost all 3 of his young children in a deliberate house fire! And there was nothing he could do to protect them and he now cannot grieve their loss properly, or at all because (rightly or wrongly) he is locked in a prison cell awaiting trial. He must be inconsolable! I never thought I'd feel sorry for an alleged wife beater, but here we are!

MOO
Click to expand...
Absolutely feeling the same way. I guess we get jaded by the same story of ex partners time and time again and it was easy to presume the same again here.
 
news.sky.com

Bradford house fire: Murder suspect is ex-partner of woman who was visiting family killed in blaze

The fire killed a woman and her three children in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Police have sought to explain their investigation after speculation online.
news.sky.com news.sky.com


West Yorkshire Police said: "Due to speculation online surrounding the fire, we are keen to address some of the rumours.

"A 39-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder. This man is the ex-partner of a woman who was visiting the family. He remains in hospital in a critical condition."

Uniformed officers visited the address last month due to an unrelated matter, police added.

Specialist officers continue to support the family, including Bryonie's partner Jonathan.

"They are understandably devastated at their loss and we ask that their privacy is respected," the force said.

Police said earlier that they believed the blaze was started deliberately and was "domestic related".

In a statement issued via the force, the family said the loss of "our B" and the children, referred to as "Chuch, Oggy and Strawberry", had brought "unimaginable sadness and grief".
 
What even is this case?

Not only is there a giant elephant in the room, but the MSM presented the elephant in front of us and invited us to admire his wonderful trunk and magnificent tusks ("estranged" partner in custody for strangling the decedent and stealing her phone) before shoving the elephant into the corner of the room ("absolutely distraught fiancee" who is "being supported" by officers and we must respect his privacy) hoping we suddenly wouldn't have a million billion questions! :confused:

MOO
 
Lucy6226 said:
Absolutely feeling the same way. I guess we get jaded by the same story of ex partners time and time again and it was easy to presume the same again here.
Click to expand...
It was an ex-partner who caused these deaths, but it was not the victims' ex/father of their children. The woman, whose ex did this, must be devastated.
 
Rikissa said:
It was an ex-partner who caused these deaths, but it was not the victims' ex/father of their children. The woman, whose ex did this, must be devastated.
Click to expand...

But why did he set fire to THIS family house? :oops:
And did this woman live there?
Was she there when the tragedy struck?

My mind boggles.
What is wrong with some men?

And, as usual, innocent children are victims of vile/insane adults :mad:
 
Some update

"Police have now confirmed the man arrested on suspicion of murder
is the ex-partner
of someone who was visiting the home.
He remains in hospital in a critical condition."

PS

It reminds me of the crossbow killer.
Also possessed by mad revenge.
Also in hospital in critical condition.
Also murdered random victims.

Good riddance pathetic losers!!!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1826903914974765296
 
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As the fire started at about 2 a.m. the children was most likely asleep, and the mother died trying to save them. I read in an article that the visiting woman arrived to the house first, and her ex-partner had followed after her there, and then he set himself alight there. I'm not sure it was an "arson attack" per se, as it seems as he tried to self-immolate, but the fire spread to the house.
 
Did the visiting woman survive? This is all too sad. They should let the father out to grieve IMO
 
acehard said:
I don't mean drop the charges. Just release on bond or something till the court date.
Click to expand...
Well if there's one silver lining for him, I'd say that the devastating recent events make it a lot more likely that he'll be granted bail at his next court appearance, which is meant to be next Tuesday but I can't see him on court listings at the moment.

MOO
 
Sarahlou said:
I can't agree that he should be let out. He (allegedly) strangled poor Bryonie, he's where he should be.
Click to expand...

Exactly.
Where was he when his children were in danger?

Did he properly take care of them as is father's duty?

Oh wait,
he was in prison...

And guess what!
For strangling their Mother and...
stealing from her :oops:

We all make our own choices in life.

JMO
 
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www.dailymail.co.uk

Men are arrested for murder after mother and children killed in fire

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a mother and her three children were killed in a house fire in Bradford.
www.dailymail.co.uk www.dailymail.co.uk


Two men aged 36 and 45 have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a mother and her three children were killed in a house fire.

Bryonie Gawith, 29, died at the scene while her children Denisty, nine, Oscar, five, and Aubree Birtle, 22 months, died in hospital after the horror blaze in Bradford on August 21.

It comes as a 39-year-old man, who was arrested at the scene on Wednesday morning, on suspicion of murder remains in hospital in a critical condition.
 
www.dailymail.co.uk

Four more people arrested after house fire kills mother and children

Bryonie Gawith (pictured) was pronounced dead at the scene of the Bradford blaze on Wednesday, while her children Denisty, Aubree and Oscar Birtle, five, later died in hospital.
www.dailymail.co.uk www.dailymail.co.uk


West Yorkshire Police today confirmed four more people had been arrested amid the 'murder' probe after the tragedy at the Westbury Road home.


A total of seven people have been arrested in relation to the inferno that claimed the lives of the young faimily.

A man, 25, has this morning been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder following police enquiries in the Keighley area in the early hours of this morning.
 
Skigh said:
[…]

"A 39-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder. This man is the ex-partner of a woman who was visiting the family. He remains in hospital in a critical condition." […]
Click to expand...

I assume from the charges that the 39yo male was also therefore a victim, possibly the attempted murder charge - do others see it this way? Or is he perhaps complicit but too ill to be charged?
And where therefore does the woman who was visiting fit into this?

So sad.
 
from my understanding, the 39yo was the intended firestarter!
 
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