Date: October 15, 2024
A horrifying trial at the Old Bailey yesterday brought out details of the events that led to the death of 10-year-old Sara Sharif, whose lifeless body was found in her home in Woking on 10th August 2023. The trial of her father Urfan Sharif 42, stepmother Beinash Batool 30, and uncle Faisal Malik 29 has raised matters concerning Sara’s last days into question. All three defendants pleaded not guilty to murder and causing or allowing the death of a child.
The court was told that a neighbor heard a screech in the Sharif residence two days before Sara’s death. This scream, which was referred to as having a pitch like someone in pain, was very brief, breaking off suddenly after a few seconds, and left concerns for the safety of the young girl. More accounts provided a history of violence, children’s screaming, quarrels, and sounds that are suggestive of physical discipline.
According to testimony presented by the prosecutors, in the last weeks of her life, Sara was seriously beaten; she had bruises, burns, and bone fractures, which were described by the prosecution as savagery’’. Those who were able to testify observed radical changes in Sara: in January, she started wearing a hijab, according to neighbors, to hide bruises on her face and her head.
🚨 SHOCKING ALLEGATIONS: In a dramatic courtroom revelation, Sara Sharif's father reportedly confessed to police that he had killed his daughter after fleeing to Pakistan.
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Sara was also receiving sympathy at primary school, where teachers noticed signs of injury in her body before she was transferred from school in April 2023 to home school. The prosecution explained that the household chores assigned to her included taking out the bins, washing utensils, and doing laundry, implying that she was a repeat victim of domestic abuse at home.
On the day of her death, Urfan Sharif, who was in Pakistan along with his relatives, phoned the police and said, “I have killed my daughter.” During an eight-and-a-half minute breakdown of 999 calls, he said that he thrashed her because he considered it ‘legal punishment’ for Sara’s misconduct but ‘never wanted to kill her’.
Piling on sorrow, police found that there was a note from her boyfriend that read, “Love you, Sara,” written on her back. The note contains a confession of his crime, Urfan Sharif, saying that he is full of fear and that he wishes to surrender himself.
Thus, in court, Sharif is expected to explain that his confession was extracted under pressure from the person he wanted to ensure the safety of his wife, from whom he was a control freak. As a result, McDonald’s part-time employee Malik should be able to testify that he did not know about any abuse that could have been happening in that home.
With every trial proceeding, the story behind the death of Sara has erupted into public concern, with demands to increase safety for children.
