- Source: Murder of Sara Sharif
Sara Sharif, a 10-year-old girl, was discovered dead in her family's residence in Woking, Surrey, England, on 10 August 2023. Her death appears to have been caused by injuries. Three suspects fled to Pakistan and were arrested on their return to the United Kingdom. They were charged with murder and remanded in custody. In November 2024, Sharif's father, Urfan Sharif, admitted to her killing. On 11 December 2024, Urfan Sharif and his partner Beinash Batool were found guilty of murdering Sharif.
Sara Sharif
Sara Sharif was born on 11 January 2013 in Slough, Berkshire. Her father is Urfan Sharif, a Pakistani taxi driver who moved to the UK in 2001. Her mother, Olga (née Domin), is Polish. In 2009, the couple married and in 2010 had a son. The couple separated in 2015 and later divorced, after which the children lived with Olga, but in 2019 custody of them was awarded to Urfan, after which they lived in Horsell, Woking with him, his wife Beinash Batool, the couple's four children and Urfan's brother. Olga, who objected to them being raised Muslim, had little contact with her children during the time they lived in Woking. Sara was known to social services and in April 2023, she was taken out of primary school under the ruse of being homeschooled to cover the abuse that she was receiving from Urfan and Batool.
Discovery of the body and investigation
Sharif's body was discovered at her residence on Hammond Road, Horsell, during the early hours of 10 August 2023 by PC George Van der Wart. Surrey Police identified Urfan Sharif, his partner Beinash Batool, and his brother Faisal Malik as persons of interest. All three departed from the UK for Islamabad, Pakistan on 9 August, a day before Sara's body was found. Urfan Sharif made a 999 call from Pakistan shortly after he arrived in Islamabad with his partner, brother, and five children. He admitted, “I’ve killed my daughter,” stating, “It wasn’t my intention to kill her, but I beat her up too much.” He told the police call handler that his actions were intended as punishment, saying, “I’m a cruel father.”
On 15 August, a post-mortem was carried out, which discovered that she had suffered numerous and severe injuries over an extended period. At the trial, her more than 70 injuries were revealed: these included injuries to her ribs, shoulder blades, fingers and 11 fractures to her spine, a puncture wound to the head, a traumatic brain injury, a burn on her buttock caused by a domestic iron, scalds by hot water, restraint injuries, bruises caused by blunt objects and human bite marks. The exact cause of her death remains undetermined, but according to an inquest it is unlikely that it was a natural occurrence. The inquest was adjourned until 29 February 2024.
International manhunt
Authorities initiated an international search to locate the suspects. Two police teams in Jhelum were actively searching for Urfan Sharif. There is no official extradition agreement in place between the United Kingdom and Pakistan. The police made a new request for information two weeks after the discovery of Sharif's body, urging anyone who had contact with her to come forward with information.
On 12 September 2023, police raided the house of Urfan Sharif's father in Jhelum, Punjab, Pakistan and recovered the five children in good condition, after which they were put in care. On 13 September, the three suspects were arrested at Gatwick Airport on suspicion of murder after disembarking a flight from Sialkot via Dubai.
Trial
On 14 September 2023, they were all charged with murder along with an additional charge of causing or allowing the death of a child. They were remanded in custody ahead of a hearing on 15 September at Guildford Magistrates' Court. They appeared before London's Old Bailey on 19 September 2023 via videolink. A plea hearing took place in December 2023, at which all three pleaded not guilty to each charge, and they were set to stand trial in September 2024.
At an Old Bailey hearing on 26 January 2024, Judge Mark Lucraft KC set a provisional trial date for October, with the actual date to be confirmed at a hearing in February. At a hearing on 1 March, it was confirmed the trial was tabled to begin on 1 October.
On 8 October 2024, the jury was sworn in at the start of the trial of the three defendants at the Old Bailey. The prosecutor revealed on 14 October that Sara's father had admitted killing her when he had rang 999 after landing in Pakistan: he claimed he had "legally punished her" and told the operator "I beat her up, it wasn't my intention to kill her, but I beat her up too much". In November, he accepted "full responsibility" for causing Sara's death.
On 11 December 2024, Urfan Sharif and Batool were found guilty of murdering Sara. Malik was found not guilty of murder but was found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child.
On 17 December 2024, Sharif received a minimum term of 40 years, while Batool was given 33 years, with the judge, Mr Justice Cavanagh, describing their crimes as "a campaign of torture" in which "the degree of cruelty is almost inconceivable". The girl's uncle, Faisal Malik, 29, was imprisoned for 16 years for causing or allowing the death of a child.