LONDON: In a chilling case that has gripped the United Kingdom, the father of 10-year-old Sara Sharif, found dead in Woking in August 2023, has denied her murder, instead accusing her stepmother of being responsible. Describing her as “evil” and “psycho,” Urfan Sharif, 42, has sought to deflect blame during the ongoing trial at London’s Old Bailey court.

Sara Sharif's tragic death shocked the nation when her body was discovered on August 10, 2023, bearing horrific injuries. These included “broken bones, burns, and bite marks,” pointing to severe and sustained abuse. Her father, along with his wife, 30-year-old Beinash Batool, and brother, 29-year-old Faisal Malik, fled to Pakistan just a day before her lifeless body was found.

On arriving in Islamabad, Sharif made a distressing phone call to UK police, claiming he had “beat her up too much.” However, he later retracted this admission, stating that he had fabricated the confession to “protect my family.”

All three suspects were arrested upon their return to the UK a month later. They now face charges of murder and allowing the death of a child, which they have consistently denied. As grim details of Sara’s injuries emerged in court, Batool alleged that Sharif was responsible for frequently beating the child. Sharif, on the other hand, admitted to slapping Sara “multiple times” but denied causing her severe injuries, asserting he was “never at home” during those incidents.

The trial has revealed the full extent of Sara’s suffering, with prosecutors presenting harrowing evidence. Her injuries reflect unimaginable cruelty, leading to nationwide calls for justice. Meanwhile, the accused remain steadfast in their denials, leaving the court to piece together the truth behind this horrifying tragedy.

The case continues, with Sara’s stepmother and uncle also facing questions about their role in the events leading up to her death. Despite their denials, the mounting evidence paints a troubling picture of what transpired in the family home before Sara’s untimely demise.

Was Sara Killed by Her Father?

The trial surrounding the harrowing death of 10-year-old Sara Sharif took a startling turn as her father, Urfan Sharif, made shocking admissions. Speaking in court on Wednesday, Sharif confessed to killing his daughter but claimed he had “not meant to harm her,” even though his actions caused her immense suffering as she lay dying.

Facing intense questioning from his wife's lawyer, Sharif admitted his role with chilling clarity, taking “full responsibility” for the events that led to Sara’s death. When asked directly if he killed her by beating, Sharif responded, “Yes, she died because of me.” Despite this admission, he continued to assert that his intentions were not to harm his daughter, presenting a disturbing dichotomy in his testimony.

Sharif recounted horrific details of the abuse, acknowledging that he inflicted multiple fractures on Sara weeks before her death. The injuries were caused by using a cricket bat, binding her with packaging tape, and throttling her with his bare hands, which ultimately resulted in the breaking of the hyoid bone in her neck. As reported by news agency AFP, Sharif chillingly accepted, “I can take full responsibility. I accept every single thing.” He also confessed to beating Sara severely on August 8, 2023, as she collapsed and succumbed to her injuries.

Despite these revelations, Sharif, along with his wife, Beinash Batool, and his brother, Faisal Malik, continues to deny charges of causing or allowing Sara’s death. Their denials stand in stark contrast to the gruesome evidence and Sharif’s own words, leaving the court to navigate this deeply unsettling case.

The trial continues, with all three defendants maintaining their innocence on charges of facilitating or causing Sara's death, even as the father’s damning statements paint a grim picture of what transpired.

The jury at London’s Old Bailey court was presented with chilling details about the actions of Urfan Sharif, his wife Beinash Batool, and his brother Faisal Malik following the death of 10-year-old Sara Sharif. According to evidence, the trio left their family home in Woking, southwest of London, on August 9, 2023, a day after Sara died. They fled to Pakistan, leaving behind a trail of questions and a devastating tragedy.

Sara's lifeless body was discovered later in August 2023 by police, who had been tipped off by Sharif through a phone call from Islamabad. Sharif admitted in court last week that he was “devastated by Sara’s death” but claimed he left the country because Batool told him that another of his children had beaten Sara, and he feared the consequences for the child.

Before their departure, Sharif wrote a note confessing, “Whoever sees this... it’s me Urfan Sharif who killed my daughter by beating.” However, during the trial, he stated that the note's wording was not his own but was dictated by his wife, Batool. He claimed he took responsibility for the crime to “protect his other children.”

In his testimony, Sharif revealed that he had left the house keys under the doormat so that police would not have to break in. He also promised to inform the authorities about Sara once he was out of the country. However, this promise did little to mitigate the horrific actions that followed.

The court heard a recording of Sharif’s garbled phone call to UK police after he arrived in Islamabad. In the recording, Sharif repeatedly stated, “I killed my daughter, I killed my daughter.” He elaborated that he had “legally punish(ed)” Sara and that she had died as a result. Sharif added, “I beat her, I didn’t want to kill her, but I beat her too much,” citing her behavior as being “naughty.”

While instructing the police to find Sara’s body, he admitted fleeing “in a panic” but assured, “I promise I’ll come back.” True to this promise, Sharif, Batool, and Malik returned to the UK a month later and were immediately arrested.

Sara's Tortured for Years

The disturbing pattern of abuse faced by 10-year-old Sara Sharif came to light during the trial, as the court reviewed WhatsApp messages exchanged between her stepmother, Beinash Batool, and Batool’s sister over several years. These messages painted a grim picture of Sara's life, revealing a history of prolonged assault and mistreatment.

In one message, Batool wrote that Sharif had beaten Sara for being “rude and rebellious,” adding chillingly, “She’s covered in bruises, literally beaten black.” In another instance, Batool attributed Sara's behavior to the supernatural, claiming, “She’s got a jinn in her,” referencing mythical genie-like beings.

Prosecutor William Emlyn Jones disclosed that four months before Sara’s tragic death, Sharif informed her school that Sara would be homeschooled “with immediate effect.” This decision came as the family moved a short distance from West Byfleet to Woking.

Teachers had already observed troubling signs. Sara's teacher, Helen Simmons, described her as a “happy child” who could occasionally be “sassy.” However, Simmons recalled seeing bruises on Sara’s face on two occasions, once in June 2022 and again in March 2023. When questioned about her injuries, Sara would remain silent, hiding her face in her arms. This reluctance to explain led the school to file a referral to child protection services.

Sara’s neighbors also provided heartbreaking testimony. Rebecca Spencer, who lived in the same building, said she often heard Batool “screaming” at Sara. She also described unsettling noises that suggested confinement, saying it sounded like someone was “locked in a bedroom,” accompanied by “constant rattling of the door” as if they were trying desperately to escape.

Father Accused of Murder of British-Pakistani Girl Blames Stepmother

In a highly emotional session at the Old Bailey, Urfan Sharif, the father accused of murdering his 10-year-old daughter Sara Sharif, broke down as his lawyer, Naeem Mian, questioned him about the allegations of abuse. Sharif, a taxi driver by profession, faced accusations of using a cricket bat to beat Sara, who had been homeschooled prior to her tragic death.

Sharif denied burning Sara with an iron, instead claiming that he was “made to” slap his daughter by his wife, Beinash Batool. According to Sharif, Batool constantly accused Sara of misbehavior and pressured him into punishing the child.

In an emotional outburst, Sharif pointed toward Batool in the dock and declared, “I should not have believed her... I didn’t realize I’m living with evil and a psycho.” He further alleged that Batool was responsible for biting Sara, stating she had done so “like an animal.”

The court heard that Sharif and Sara's uncle, Faisal Malik, had provided their dental impressions as part of the investigation, but Batool had refused to do the same. Sharif questioned the jury, saying, “I didn’t do it. Faisal didn’t do it. Who else was at home?”

Sharif also denied any knowledge of Sara being in pain, saying, “She never told me that.” He explained that he hadn’t noticed her injuries because Sara typically wore full-sleeve tops, long bottoms, and a hijab.

Naeem Mian presented additional details, indicating that in the month leading up to Sara's death, Sharif was often away from home due to work. He would leave early in the morning and return late at night. During this time, Batool, who was largely at home, would frequently call Sharif on the phone.

In the final moments of his testimony, Urfan Sharif broke down as he recounted a chilling memory: returning home to find his 10-year-old daughter, Sara, with her hands tied behind her back using brown packaging tape. Sharif blamed his wife, Beinash Batool, for the act, describing her as “manipulative.”

When asked why he hadn’t reported the incident to the police or demanded Batool leave the house, Sharif explained that he had been swayed by her apology. In a moment of regret, he admitted, “I have been an idiot.”

The court was presented with forensic evidence that added to the grim narrative. Among the items was a white plastic carrier bag fashioned into a hood, which prosecutors alleged could have been used on Sara’s head. The bag was found with packaging tape attached and long, brown hairs that matched Sara’s DNA.

Sharif’s fingerprints were discovered on the non-sticky side of the tape and the plastic bag. While denying he had created the hood or used it on Sara, Sharif suggested his fingerprints were present because he had handled the items while sorting household garbage.

The testimony also included revelations about Batool’s behavior. Sharif accused her of being abusive and of preventing him from asking Sara how she had sustained her injuries. A 2022 text message from Batool to her sister showed her reporting that Sharif had suggested using makeup to cover Sara’s bruises. The sister’s response, “LOL it was going to happen you can tell,” was read aloud in court, adding another layer of alleged complicity.

In the days leading up to her death, Sara, who helped with chores around the house, had reportedly pleaded with her father, “Don’t go to work.” Her words, in retrospect, underscored the isolation and despair she might have felt.