Schoolgirl Sara Sharif was subjected to horrific abuse over a period of more than two years before her tragic death, a court has heard. Sara was hooded, restrained, and beaten with a belt buckle and pole by her father, taxi driver Urfan Sharif, her stepmother Beinash Batool, and her uncle Faisal Malik. All three are currently on trial for her murder at the Old Bailey.
Sara’s body was discovered in her family home in Woking, Surrey, with disturbing injuries including bitemarks, scalding, and broken bones. The court heard that Sara had been the victim of ongoing abuse, with evidence suggesting that more than one adult was involved in the violence.
Neighbors reported hearing screams, smacking sounds, and crying coming from the Sharif family home in both West Byfleet and Woking. One neighbor described the silence that followed the sounds as “deathly quiet” and expressed concern but ultimately did not report it to social services.
WhatsApp messages from Batool to her sisters indicated that all was not well in the household, with Sharif being portrayed as an angry parent. Reports of children screaming and violent outbursts continued over the years leading up to Sara’s death.
In the months before her tragic passing, Sara began to wear a hijab to school, which prosecutors suggested was an attempt to conceal injuries to her face and head. The school had also noticed bruises on Sara’s body, which raised concerns and led to a referral to social services.
Evidence presented in court suggested that Sara had been restrained with homemade hoods made of parcel tape and plastic bags. Fingerprints belonging to Sharif were found on the materials used to restrain Sara.
On the day of Sara’s death, Sharif called police from Pakistan to confess to killing his daughter, claiming he had beaten her for being naughty. Sara’s body was discovered with multiple injuries, including signs of blunt force trauma, burns, restraint marks, and suspected human bite marks.
A post-mortem examination revealed that Sara had suffered dozens of injuries that were not consistent with a natural death. The three defendants, Sharif, Batool, and Malik, are currently standing trial for Sara’s murder and causing or allowing her death.
The tragic case of Sara Sharif sheds light on the harrowing reality of child abuse and the importance of speaking up and seeking help in cases of suspected abuse. It serves as a reminder of the need to protect vulnerable individuals and prevent such senseless tragedies from occurring in the future.
