Sara Sharif Death, Obituary – The ongoing trial surrounding the tragic death of 10-year-old Sara Sharif has unveiled shocking details, painting a disturbing picture of the abuse the young girl suffered before her death. Sara was found dead in her family home in Woking on August 10, 2023, with a series of injuries described by authorities as “disturbing” and consistent with prolonged abuse. Her father, Urfan Sharif, is on trial alongside Sara’s stepmother, Beinash Batool, and her uncle, Faisal Malik, all charged with her murder.
Discovery of Sara’s Body and Key Details
Sara was discovered in a bedroom at the family home, wrapped in a blue blanket and fully clothed, with visible bruising on her face and fingers. Despite her injuries, it is believed that Sara had been dressed in clean clothes after her death. The court heard that Urfan Sharif called Surrey Police from Pakistan, admitting in a harrowing 999 call that he had “beaten her up too much” and that she had died. In the call
Sharif can be heard crying and pleading with police to visit his home, describing his actions as a form of punishment that had spiraled out of control.
Sharif left a handwritten note beside Sara’s body, in which he expressed regret, stating that his intention was not to kill her but that he had “lost it.” The note further read, “I will hand over myself and take punishment,” but he fled the country shortly after the incident. The note concluded with a plea for his daughter to be buried according to Muslim customs.
Injuries Described as Part of a ‘Campaign of Abuse’
The court has been presented with disturbing evidence of Sara’s extensive injuries, which included scalding, broken bones, and human bite marks on her lower arm and inner thigh. Prosecutors described a “pattern of injuries” across Sara’s body, including 11 fractures to her spine, damage to her ribs, shoulder blades, and fingers, and signs of traumatic brain injury. These injuries suggested long-term abuse rather than a one-off incident. While dental impressions from Sharif and Malik excluded them as the source of the bite marks, Batool refused to provide a dental sample.
The prosecution maintains that Sara was subjected to what they described as a “campaign of abuse,” with all three defendants complicit. None of them reported Sara’s injuries to medical professionals or sought help from authorities, which, according to the prosecution, implicates them all in her death. The prosecutor, William Emlyn Jones KC, argued that it is “inconceivable” that only one of the adults was responsible for the abuse, and that each defendant played a role in the violence against Sara.
Defendants Deflect Blame
As the trial progresses, the defendants are reportedly trying to deflect responsibility onto one another. Urfan Sharif claims that his wife, Batool, was responsible for Sara’s death, and that his confession was made to protect her. Batool, in turn, accused Sharif of being a violent disciplinarian and claimed she was afraid of him. Malik, Sara’s uncle, denies any involvement, maintaining that he was unaware of the abuse and that whoever was responsible for the violence, it was not him.
A key piece of evidence presented in court was a video released by Sharif and Batool after Sara’s death, in which Batool described the child’s death as an “incident” and complained about the Pakistani police investigation. The pair claimed they had gone into hiding due to fear of the police but expressed their willingness to cooperate with UK authorities. However, the defendants were arrested upon their return to the UK in September.
Legal Proceedings and Trial Timeline
The trial, presided over by Mr. Justice Cavanagh at the Old Bailey, is expected to continue until December 13, 2024. The jury has already heard emotional testimony and audio recordings, including Sharif’s 999 call, which lasted over eight minutes and revealed his anguish over the situation.
The prosecution argues that all three adults failed in their duty to protect Sara, instead participating in or enabling her abuse. The defense is expected to continue to focus on shifting the blame, with each defendant denying sole responsibility for Sara’s death. The outcome of the trial will depend on the jury’s evaluation of the extensive evidence presented, including forensic details and the defendants’ conflicting accounts of the events leading up to Sara’s tragic death.
As the trial unfolds, it continues to highlight the horror of child abuse and the complex legal battles that follow such devastating cases. The jury’s final verdict will bring some measure of justice for the young girl, whose life was tragically cut short in a manner that has shocked the nation.
