Sara Sharif’s dad, stepmum and uncle to go on trial for murder after 10-year-old girl was found dead at home
THREE members of Sara Sharif’s family will face a trial for her tragic death later this year.
The 10-year-old child’s father, Urfan Sharif, 42, stepmother, Beinash Batool, 29, and uncle, Faisal Malik, 28, are accused of killing the youngster.
Sara’s body was discovered at her home in Woking, Surrey, on August 10 last year.
The defendants have pleaded not guilty to murder and to causing or allowing the death of a child between December 16, 2022 and August 9, 2023.
All three appeared at the Old Bailey by video-link on Friday as Judge Mark Lucraft set a date for their trial on October 1.
The judge confirmed the case would take up to six weeks and be heard before High Court judge Justice Cavanagh.
Cops found Sara dead after receiving a call from Pakistan, which lasted eight minutes and 34 seconds, at 2.47am on August 10.
Officers arrived at the property and found the young girl lying face up and fully clothed under a blanket in a bunk bed in an upstairs room.
It is alleged the defendants had booked a flight to the country two days earlier.
Prosecutors told the Old Bailey that Sara was found to have “a constellation of healed and healing injuries”.
The day before her body was discovered, the three defendants had left the UK for Pakistan with five children.
They returned to the UK on September 13 and were arrested on landing at Gatwick Airport.
The defendants, formerly of Hammond Road in Woking, appeared from Belmarsh and Bronzefield prisons and were further remanded into custody.
They had previously pleaded not guilty in December at an appearance at the Old Bailey.
Sara was identified using the DNA of her mother Olga Sharif, who lives in Somerset, and another relative, the court was told previously.
It is alleged that Sara died as a result of third-party involvement.
Timeline of Sara Sharif killing
- August 17 – Sara Sharif’s body found with “multiple and extensive” injuries after her dad Urfan calls 999 from Pakistan
- August 19 – international manhunt launched as Surrey Police name Sara’s father, stepmother and uncle in connection with her death
- August 23 – uncle claims Sara “fell down the stairs and broke her neck” before family denies making statement
- August 29 – inquest hears that Sara’s death “likely to be unnatural”
- September 6 – Sara’s stepmother says family wants to “fight our case in court”
- September 7 – Pakistani cops raid 20 homes in Jhelum and Mirpur to draw out Sara’s relatives
- September 9 – cops detain ten close relatives of Sara to put pressure on Urfan
- September 11 – cops recover five children thought to have travelled to Pakistan with Urfan
- September 13 – Urfan and Sara’s uncle and stepmother arrested at Gatwick Airport after returning to the UK