Sara Sharif case: Father, stepmother found guilty of murder

The father and stepmother of 10-year-old Sara Sharif were convicted of her murder, while her uncle was found guilty of allowing her death after years of horrific abuse.

Sara’s father, Urfan Sharif, 42, and stepmother, Beinash Batool, 30, were found guilty following a trial at the Old Bailey. 

Her uncle, Faisal Malik, 29, was also convicted of his role in her death. Justice Cavanagh postponed sentencing, acknowledging the trial's “extremely stressful and traumatic” nature.

Sara’s body was discovered on August 8, 2023, at her Woking home. She had endured over 25 broken bones, burns, and bite marks, caused by years of violent discipline under her father.

 Prosecutors revealed Sara was regularly beaten with objects, strangled, and subjected to torture.

Despite warnings from teachers and social services earlier that year, Sara’s plight was ignored. Her injuries intensified after she was removed from school in April 2023.

On the day of her death, Urfan struck her with a pole and throttled her, leaving her to die. Hours later, the family fled to Pakistan but were arrested upon returning to the UK in September.

Urfan initially blamed Batool for the violence but later confessed, admitting to the abuse but denying intentions to kill. 

Chief Superintendent Mark Chapman condemned the horrific abuse and commended the international effort to bring the perpetrators to justice, extending sympathies to Sara’s family and those affected by her tragic death.