Woking, England – In a harrowing and disturbing case emerging from Woking, Sara Sharif, a schoolgirl aged 10, was found deceased at her family home. The discovery of her body on August 10 last year unveiled a series of horrific injuries, sparking an investigation that has led to a trial involving her father, stepmother, and uncle at the Old Bailey, London’s central criminal court.
Sara’s father, Urfan Sharif, 42, alongside her stepmother Beinash Batool, 30, and her uncle Faisal Malik, 29, stand accused of participating in her murder through a prolonged and brutal ‘campaign of abuse’. The trio, who deny the charges, also face allegations of causing or allowing the death of a child stretching from December 16, 2022, to August 9, 2023.
The court learned that on the fateful morning, officers arriving at the scene found Sara beneath a blanket in a bunkbed, her body bearing extensive evidence of maltreatment including bruises, burns, and broken bones. Near her resting place, a note allegedly penned by Urfan Sharif contained a confession and a plea for her to be buried according to Muslim rites, signaling his intention to flee the country. “I am running away because I am scared but I promise that I will hand over myself and take punishment,” the note stated.
Prosecutor William Emlyn Jones KC in his opening statement emphasized the severe nature of the abuse, which included bite marks and evidence of scalding, and pointed out the complicity of all three defendants in the violence against Sara. The court viewed forensic documentation of the injuries which included shockingly painful detail, like bite marks indicating dragged teeth and bruising likely from suction.
Further complexities in the case arose when presented with the behaviors following the incident. Beinash Batool, in a publicly aired video, referred to the death as an “incident” and criticized the Pakistani police’s investigation, claiming they had retreated into hiding due to fears for their safety – a statement that conflicted with her later arrest in the UK.
This emotionally charged trial has drawn attention to the responsibilities and protections for children and the horrifying potential for harm within family units. According to court records, the defense strategies of the accused involve pointing fingers at each other, each denying personal responsibility for the acts of abuse that ultimately led to Sara’s death.
The trial, expected to conclude by December 13, continues under the scrutiny of Mr. Justice Cavanagh, who presides over the disturbing details and testimonies in a case that has gripped and horrified the nation. As proceedings carry on, questions about familial responsibilities, the failures in protecting vulnerable children, and the pursuit of justice remain at the forefront of this tragic inquiry.