Father, Stepmother Convicted of 10-Year-Old Sara Sharif's Murder; Uncle Found Guilty of Allowing Death

Dec 11, 2024, 01:31 PM

Urfan Sharif, 42, and his wife Beinash Batool, 30, have been found guilty of murdering Sharif's 10-year-old daughter, Sara Sharif, following a trial at the Old Bailey in the UK. Sara was found dead at her home in Woking, Surrey, with over 70 injuries indicative of prolonged abuse. The court heard that she had been hooded, tied up, beaten with a cricket bat, burnt with an iron, and bitten during a sustained campaign of abuse over more than two years. WhatsApp messages provided a snapshot of the violence she endured. Her uncle, Faisal Malik, 29, was found guilty of causing or allowing her death. After Sara's death, the three fled to Pakistan but were later arrested upon their return to the UK. The case has raised questions about missed opportunities by social services and authorities to protect Sara, despite signs of her abuse.