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Murder of Sara Sharif

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Sara Sharif
Publicity photo of Sara Sharif
Born(2013-01-11)11 January 2013
Slough, Berkshire, England
Died8 August 2023(2023-08-08) (aged 10)
Woking, Surrey, England
Cause of deathDeath by multiple, extensive injuries
Parents
  • Urfan Sharif (father)
  • Olga Sharif (mother)
RelativesBeinash Batool (stepmother)

Sara Sharif, a 10-year-old girl, was discovered dead in her family's residence in Woking, Surrey, England, on 10 August 2023.[1][2][3] Her death appears to have been caused by injuries. Three suspects fled to Pakistan[4][3] and were arrested on their return to the United Kingdom. They were charged with murder and remanded in custody. In November 2024, Sharif's father, Urfan Sharif, admitted to her killing.[5] On 11 December 2024, Urfan Sharif and his partner Beinash Batool were found guilty of murdering Sharif.[6]

Sara Sharif

Sara Sharif was born on 11 January 2013 in Slough, Berkshire.[7][3] Her father is Urfan Sharif, a Pakistani taxi driver who moved to the UK in 2001.[7][8] Her mother, Olga (née Domin), is Polish.[7] In 2009, the couple married and in 2010 had a son.[7][8] The couple separated in 2015 and later divorced, after which the children lived with Olga, but in 2019 custody of them was awarded to Urfan, after which they lived in Horsell, Woking with him, his wife Beinash Batool, the couple's four children and Urfan's brother.[7][8] Olga, who objected to them being raised Muslim, had little contact with her children during the time they lived in Woking.[7] Sara was known to social services and in April 2023, she was taken out of primary school under the ruse of being homeschooled to cover the abuse that she was receiving from Urfan and Batool.[9]

Discovery of the body and investigation

Sharif's body was discovered at her residence on Hammond Road, Horsell, during the early hours of 10 August 2023 by PC George Van der Wart. [2][3] Surrey Police identified Urfan Sharif, his partner Beinash Batool, and his brother Faisal Malik as persons of interest.[4] All three departed from the UK for Islamabad, Pakistan on 9 August, a day before Sara's body was found.[10][3] Urfan Sharif made a 999 call from Pakistan shortly after he arrived in Islamabad with his partner, brother, and five children.[11] He admitted, “I’ve killed my daughter,” stating, “It wasn’t my intention to kill her, but I beat her up too much.” He told the police call handler that his actions were intended as punishment, saying, “I’m a cruel father.”[12]

On 15 August, a post-mortem was carried out, which discovered that she had suffered numerous and severe injuries over an extended period.[11] At the trial, her more than 70 injuries were revealed:[13] these included injuries to her ribs, shoulder blades, fingers and 11 fractures to her spine, a puncture wound to the head, a traumatic brain injury, a burn on her buttock caused by a domestic iron, scalds by hot water, restraint injuries, bruises caused by blunt objects and human bite marks.[13][14][15] The exact cause of her death remains undetermined, but according to an inquest it is unlikely that it was a natural occurrence.[4][3] The inquest was adjourned until 29 February 2024.[3]

International manhunt

Authorities initiated an international search to locate the suspects.[2] Two police teams in Jhelum were actively searching for Urfan Sharif. There is no official extradition agreement in place between the United Kingdom and Pakistan.[11] The police made a new request for information two weeks after the discovery of Sharif's body, urging anyone who had contact with her to come forward with information.[2]

On 12 September 2023, police raided the house of Urfan Sharif's father in Jhelum, Punjab, Pakistan and recovered the five children in good condition, after which they were put in care.[10][16] On 13 September, the three suspects were arrested at Gatwick Airport on suspicion of murder after disembarking a flight from Sialkot via Dubai.[10]

Trial

On 14 September 2023, they were all charged with murder along with an additional charge of causing or allowing the death of a child. They were remanded in custody ahead of a hearing on 15 September at Guildford Magistrates' Court.[17] They appeared before London's Old Bailey on 19 September 2023 via videolink.[18] A plea hearing took place in December 2023, at which all three pleaded not guilty to each charge,[19] and they were set to stand trial in September 2024.[18]

At an Old Bailey hearing on 26 January 2024, Judge Mark Lucraft KC set a provisional trial date for October, with the actual date to be confirmed at a hearing in February.[20] At a hearing on 1 March, it was confirmed the trial was tabled to begin on 1 October.[21]

On 8 October 2024, the jury was sworn in at the start of the trial of the three defendants at the Old Bailey.[22] The prosecutor revealed on 14 October that Sara's father had admitted killing her when he had rang 999 after landing in Pakistan:[23] he claimed he had "legally punished her" and told the operator "I beat her up, it wasn't my intention to kill her, but I beat her up too much".[24][25] In November, he accepted "full responsibility" for causing Sara's death.[5]

On 11 December 2024, Urfan Sharif and Batool were found guilty of murdering Sara.[6] Malik was found not guilty of murder but was found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child.[6]

On 17 December 2024, Sharif received a minimum term of 40 years, while Batool was given 33 years, with the judge, Mr Justice Cavanagh, describing their crimes as "a campaign of torture" in which "the degree of cruelty is almost inconceivable". The girl's uncle, Faisal Malik, 29, was imprisoned for 16 years for causing or allowing the death of a child.[26]

References

  1. ^ Manning, Ellen; Nsubuga, Jimmy (5 September 2023). "Sara Sharif murder investigation: Latest updates on death of girl, 10, in Woking - what we know". Yahoo News. Archived from the original on 1 September 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d Gupta, Tanya (24 August 2023). "Sara Sharif murder probe: Fresh appeal two weeks after girl found dead". BBC News. Archived from the original on 18 September 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Hennessey, Ted (29 August 2023). "Sara Sharif's cause of death 'not yet ascertained', inquest hears". The Irish News. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Ahmed, Nabiha (29 August 2023). "Cause of Sara Sharif's death likely to be 'unnatural', inquest hears". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 12 September 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  5. ^ a b Fuller, Christian; Sandford, Daniel (13 November 2024). "Sara Sharif: Father confesses to killing 10-year-old daughter". BBC News. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  6. ^ a b c Fuller, Christian (11 December 2024). "Sara Sharif trial: Father and stepmother found guilty of murder". BBC News. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Doyle, Liam (16 August 2023). "Mother of Sara Sharif says her daughter's 'behaviour changed' after Woking move". Express.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  8. ^ a b c Dugan, Emily; Janjua, Haroon (8 September 2023). "Sara Sharif: a month of unanswered questions about 10-year-old's death". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 11 February 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  9. ^ Sinmaz, Emine (17 December 2024). "Judge in Sara Sharif case warns of 'dangers' of automatic right to home school children". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  10. ^ a b c Sandford, Daniel; Faulkner, Doug; Wilkinson, Helena (13 September 2023). "Sara Sharif: Three relatives arrested on suspicion of murder". BBC News. Archived from the original on 13 September 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  11. ^ a b c Mureddu-Reid, Hamish; Wilkinson, Helena (20 August 2023). "Sara Sharif murder inquiry: Girl known to authorities, council says". BBC News. Archived from the original on 18 September 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  12. ^ Sandford, Daniel (11 December 2024). "Behind Sara Sharif's smile was a life of violence and torture". BBC. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  13. ^ a b Fuller, Christian; Wilkinson, Helena (16 October 2024). "Sara Sharif: Girl, 10, had more than 70 injuries, court hears". BBC News. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  14. ^ Fuller, Christian; Wilkinson, Helena (15 October 2024). "Sara Sharif: Girl, 10, wore hijab to hide injuries, court told". BBC News. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  15. ^ Evans, Holly (14 October 2024). "Sara Sharif's father called 999 to admit he 'beat her up' before fleeing to Pakistan leaving body in bunk bed". The Independent. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  16. ^ Janjua, Haroon (11 September 2023). "Sara Sharif: Pakistani police recover five children from grandfather's house". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 12 September 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  17. ^ Cursino, Malu (14 September 2023). "Sara Sharif: Father among three charged with murder of girl". BBC News. Archived from the original on 14 September 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  18. ^ a b Mureddu-Reid, Hamish (19 September 2023). "Sara Sharif's father, stepmother and uncle appear in court over girl's murder". BBC News. Archived from the original on 20 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  19. ^ Fuller, Christian (14 December 2023). "Sara Sharif: Father, step-mother and uncle deny girl's murder". BBC News. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  20. ^ Britton, Jeremy (26 January 2024). "Sara Sharif: Murder trial expected in October". BBC News. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  21. ^ Wilkinson, Helena; Coady-Stemp, Emily (1 March 2024). "Sara Sharif murder trial confirmed for October". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  22. ^ Wilkinson, Helena; Fuller, Christian (8 October 2024). "Sara Sharif: Jury sworn in for murder trial into girl's death". BBC News. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  23. ^ Fuller, Christian; Wilkinson, Helena (14 October 2024). "Sara Sharif: Father admitted killing daughter in police call, court hears". BBC News. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  24. ^ Evans, Holly (14 October 2024). "Sara Sharif murder trial latest: Father left note next to 10-year-old's body saying 'I lost it'". The Independent. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  25. ^ Tobin, Sam (14 October 2024). "Sara Sharif murder case: Accused father confessed to UK police, jurors told". Reuters. Archived from the original on 16 December 2024.
  26. ^ "Sara Sharif's father and stepmother jailed for life for her murder". BBC News. 17 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
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