By DAN WOODLAND, NEWS REPORTER Published: 11:41 BST, 8 October 2025 | Updated: 11:59 BST, 8 October 2025
A man accused of murdering a mother and her three children in a house fire died of a heart attack after collapsing in prison, an inquest heard.Mohammed Shabir, 45, was due to go on trial later this year for the murders of Bryonie Gawith, 29, Denisty Birtle, nine, Oscar Birtle, five, and 22-month-old Aubree Birtle, who died in the blaze last year. The 'joyful, bubbly, and beautiful' mother and her three children died after a fire engulfed their home in Westbury Road, Bradford, in the early hours of August 21. Shabir, who was one of three men due to go on trial, pleaded not guilty to murdering the family during a court appearance last year. He was on remand at HMP Leeds when he became unwell and collapsed in his prison wing shortly after a visit from his family on September 24, an inquest into his death heard.The prisoner was taken to Leeds General Infirmary by ambulance where his condition deteriorated and he went into cardiac arrest before going in for surgery. He was pronounced dead just before 9.30pm.His family expressed concerns that there 'may be some elements of neglect' as he was asthmatic and asked the coroner why there was an hour and a half between him collapsing and arriving at hospital.The coroner recorded a conclusion that Shabir died from natural causes and noted there had not been any exacerbations to his condition while in custody . Bryonie Gawith, 29, Denisty Birtle, nine, Oscar Birtle, five, and 22-month-old Aubree Birtle, who died after a fire engulfed their home in Westbury Road, Bradford, on August 21 last year Mohammed Shabir died of a heart attack after collapsing in prison, an inquest heard. Mr Shabir (second left) is pictured in a court sketch at Bradford Magistrates' CourtAt an inquest on Wednesday, coroner Oliver Longstaff said: 'At the time of his death Mr Shabir had not been convicted of any criminal offence, he had been charged with an offence, he had indicated a plea of not guilty to that offence.'There was a trial date set ... Mr Shabir died before that trial had taken place.'The inquest heard on the day of his death Mr Shabir was visited by family members, who said he was his 'usual self' but noted that he had become overweight during his time in prison.CCTV footage after the visit shows Mr Shabir breathless and apparently struggling to walk up stairs, the coroner said.He collapsed on his wing at 4.45pm and an ambulance was called three minutes later, Mr Longstaff said.The coroner's report said the prison service were told there could be a two-hour wait when they called for an ambulance at 4.48pm.The inquest heard an ambulance arrived at 5.17pm and Mr Shabir was managed by paramedics within the prison until then.The coroner said Shabir had asthma and his family had concerns over whether he was receiving the correct treatment in prison. The house on Westbury Road, Bradford, where Bryonie Gawith, 29, and her three children died in a house fire Reading from a report by coroner's officer Emma Walker, Mr Longstaff said: 'They believe had he not been in prison he would still be alive.'The report said a review of Mr Shabir's medical records in prison showed there were no noted exacerbations of his asthma in custody, he had regular asthma reviews and medication was prescribed to him regularly.Sharaz Ali, 40, who was seriously injured in the fire, and Calum Sunderland, 26, of Calton Street, Keighley, are still due to go on trial next month at Bradford Crown Court.They deny murdering Ms Gawith and the three children, and attempting to murder and attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to Ms Gawith's sister Antonia Gawith.
