The violence inflicted on Sara Sharif was described as “inhuman” and “completely normalised” within the family, with all three adults involved in the abuse. Taxi driver Urfan Sharif, his wife Beinash Batool, and brother Faisal Malik are accused of being complicit in the years-long abuse that led to Sara’s tragic death last August.
Sara, a 10-year-old girl, was found dead at the family home in Woking, Surrey, with numerous injuries including broken bones, bites, burns, and signs of being tied up and hooded with tape. During the trial at the Old Bailey, Sharif initially blamed Batool for Sara’s death but later took “full responsibility” for the tragic incident.
The prosecution asserted that Sara was subjected to violence in front of Batool multiple times, and that all three adults in the house were involved in her care. A video shown to jurors depicted a family barbecue where Sara appeared with a black eye, indicating that violence against her had become normalized and used as a form of punishment.
The prosecutor emphasized that the practice of tying Sara up with packaging tape was inhumane and suggested that everyone in the household was aware of and complicit in the abuse. Sharif admitted to beating his daughter after incidents of soiling herself or vomiting, which had become frequent in the last months of her life.
During cross-examination, Sharif acknowledged that he had not been truthful in his earlier testimonies, leading to credibility issues. The defense questioned Sharif’s motives and sincerity in court, implying that he was not genuinely mourning his daughter but rather fabricating stories.
The trial of Mr. Sharif, Ms. Batool, and Mr. Malik, who all deny murder and causing or allowing Sara’s death, is ongoing at the Old Bailey. The case sheds light on the tragic consequences of normalized violence within a family and the importance of holding individuals accountable for such heinous acts. It serves as a reminder of the need to protect the most vulnerable members of society and ensure justice is served in cases of abuse and violence.
