• Both weep in the dock as jury delivers verdict
• Girl’s injuries described as ‘utterly horrendous’

LONDON: A British court has found the father and stepmother of 10-year-old Sara Sharif guilty of her murder, a case that has shocked communities worldwide. Sara’s uncle was acquitted of murder, but found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child.

The verdicts were delivered at the Old Bailey following an emotional and painstaking trial that revealed the horrific abuse Sara endured before her death on August 8, 2023, at her home in Woking, Surrey.

Prosecutors described the injuries Sara suffered as “utterly horrendous,” with detectives recounting a case that has been one of the most challenging they have ever handled.

Sara’s body was discovered two days after her death, bearing dozens of injuries sustained over weeks of relentless abuse. Speaking outside the court, Detective Chief Inspector Craig Emmerson of Surrey Police described the case as “particularly disturbing,” highlighting that Sara’s life was marked by suffering inflicted by those who were meant to protect her.

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Sara’s father Urfan Sharif, 43, and stepmother Beinash Batool, 30, wept in the dock as the jury delivered its verdict. The judge, addressing the courtroom, emphasised the severity of the crime, and it is expected both will receive life sentences.

Sara’s uncle Faisal Malik, 29, though not guilty of murder, was found complicit in failing to prevent the abuse, a decision prosecutors hope will send a strong message about the responsibility of adults in protecting vulnerable children.

During the trial, for six days, Urfan Sharif denied almost everything.

But on the seventh day, he made an extraordinary U-turn. Jurors were left open-mouthed as Sara’s father began dramatically confessing. Trembling, he said he beat his daughter over a number of weeks repeatedly and with force. “She died because of me,” he said.

Lost to tragedy, Sara was remembered by her headteacher as a “cheerful little soul” who loved singing and dreamed of appearing on The X Factor. Her passion for the stage and her resilience in the face of adversity were celebrated even as details of her tragic death unfolded. “Sara’s bravery and spirit shone through despite the suffering she endured,” said Chief Inspector Emmerson.

Justice delivered?

Judith Reed from the Crown Prosecution Service reflected on the profound tragedy of the case, stating: “The ultimate tragedy was that Sara was killed by adults who should have protected her.” She commended the efforts of Surrey Police and the CPS in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

The sentencing is scheduled for next Tuesday, with Urfan Sharif and Beinash Batool facing inevitable life sentences. The court’s decision brings some measure of justice for Sara, but her death remains a chilling reminder of the horrors of domestic abuse.

The Crown Prosecution Service said this was a “complex case”, working with foreign authorities, but they have “today secured justice for Sara”.

“None of us can imagine how appalling and brutal Sara’s treatment was in the last few weeks of her short life,” says Libby Clark from the CPS in a new statement.

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“The injuries inflicted on her were absolutely horrendous. After Sara died, instead of calling 999, the three defendants immediately made plans to flee the country, thinking only of themselves and not telling police Sara was dead until they had safely landed in Pakistan.”

Clark said the CPS built a “strong case” using mobile phone evidence, CCTV sightings and work records showing where Sara’s father and stepmother were in the weeks leading up to her murder.

“In a small house with such a big family, it would have been immediately obvious to all the adults what was happening to Sara. Yet none of them took any action to stop it or report it. They all played their part in the violence that led to her tragic death.”

Published in Dawn, December 12th, 2024