Court decisions and legal announcements regarding the appeal outcome.

Urfan Sharif and Beinash Batool Guilty of Murdering 10-Year-Old Sara Sharif at Old Bailey

Dec 11, 2024, 01:57 PM

Urfan Sharif, 42, and his wife Beinash Batool, 30, have been found guilty at the Old Bailey of murdering 10-year-old Sara Sharif. The court heard that Sara was subjected to a prolonged campaign of abuse, involving being hooded, tied up, beaten with a cricket bat, burnt with an iron, and bitten. Her uncle Faisal Malik, 29, was convicted of causing or allowing her death. The family had fled to Pakistan following the incident, but were later arrested upon their return to the UK. The trial revealed a disturbing pattern of violence and neglect, with Sara enduring over 70 injuries. The case has raised questions about missed opportunities by social services to protect Sara, with concerns voiced by her school and a history of domestic abuse within the family. The conviction marks a tragic end to a case that has highlighted systemic failures in child protection.