The father of 10-year-old Sara Sharif, who was found dead in her Woking home in August 2023, has admitted full responsibility for her death.
Prosecutors allege that Sara was subjected to a prolonged campaign of “serious and repeated violence.” Her father, Urfan Sharif, 42, along with his wife, Beinash Batool, 30, and her uncle, Faisal Malik, 29, are on trial at London’s Old Bailey, all denying charges of murder or causing or allowing her death.
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Initially, Sharif shifted blame to his wife during his testimony, but later confirmed his confession, stating, “Every single word” of his previous admissions was true.
Under cross-examination, he admitted to beating Sara “severely” over several weeks with items like a cricket bat and metal pole, angered by her soiling herself and vomiting.
When asked why he had beaten her so forcefully, Sharif acknowledged he was in the wrong and admitted Sara had done nothing to deserve such violence.
A postmortem revealed Sara suffered 71 external injuries, including fractures, burns, and bite marks. Prosecutors also disclosed that bloodstained objects, including a cricket bat, rolling pin, and metal pole, were found near the family’s outhouse.
