Accused killers of Sara Sharif in court
The father, stepmother and uncle of ten-year-old Sara Sharif, whose body was found at her home last month, have appeared in court charged with her murder.
Urfan Sharif, 41, along with partner Beinash Batool, 29, and brother Faisal Malik, 28, are each charged with murder and causing or allowing the death of a child.
The three, who spent more than a month in Pakistan following Sara’s death, were arrested on September 13 at Gatwick Airport as they disembarked a flight from Dubai.
They appeared at the Old Bailey today (tues) via video link.
Batool appeared via video link from HMP Bronzefield wearing a grey t-shirt while Sharif and Malik appeared sat together at HMP Belmarsh.
Malik wore a red t-shirt while Sharif was wearing a grey prison issue tracksuit.
The defendants spoke only to confirm their names and dates of birth and did not enter any pleas to the two charges.
Sara’s body was discovered at her home in Woking, Surrey, on August 10.
A post-mortem revealed she had suffered ‘multiple and extensive injuries’ over a ‘sustained and extended’ period of time.
Prosecutor Giles Bedloe told the court today that a ‘significant amount’ of postmortem work remains ongoing.
A day before the girl’s body was found, Sharif, Batool, and Malik flew to Pakistan. They had not been seen in a month.
They are charged with murder and causing or allowing the death of a child between 16 December 2022 and 9 August 2023.
The charges state they each caused or were aware of a ‘significant risk of serious physical harm being caused’ to Sara, and that they ‘failed to take full steps as could have reasonably been expected to protect her from that risk’.
Mr Bedloe said: ‘These defendants have been charged with the murder of 10-year-old Sara Sharif as well as the offence of allowing her death.
‘In the upstairs bedroom on a set of bunk beds attending officers pulled back the blanket and found the body of a young girl.
‘She was fully clothed on the centre of the bed lying face up.
‘Sara sustained a number of injuries – a healed fracture to one of her clavicles, multiple rib fractures, multiple bruising to the torso and limbs and the presence of haemorrhage on her brain.
‘There were multiple healing fractures on different parts of body suggesting multiple events of violence over a period of time which must have culminated in her death.’
Judge Mark Lucraft, KC, the Recorder of London, remanded the defendants in custody ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing on 1 December.
A provisional six week trial date was set for 2 September 2024.
Sara’s mother, Olga Sharif, is being supported by specialist officers.
She visited the £550,000 red-brick home in the village of Horsell five days after her daughter’s death to lay flowers in her memory.
The young girl was previously a pupil at St Mary’s Church of England primary school in Byfleet.
Detective Superintendent Mark Chapman, from the Surrey Police and Sussex Police Major Crime Team, earlier said: ‘Firstly, on behalf of Surrey Police, I would like to express my heartfelt condolences following Sara’s tragic death.
‘Our thoughts are with her mother at this difficult time. We also fully appreciate the impact this devastating incident will have had within the local community.’
Surrey Police issued a statement, saying: ‘Sara’s mother has been informed of this latest update and is being supported by specialist officers. Our thoughts remain with her and those affected by Sara’s death at this very difficult time.
‘This has been an extremely fast-moving, challenging and complex enquiry and we remain absolutely committed to conducting a thorough investigation into Sara’s death.’
