Sara Sharif’s Father Accepts Responsibility for Her Death in Court

Urfan Sharif, the father of Sara Sharif, has acknowledged “full responsibility” for her demise, yet he has denied any intent to cause her death, according to court proceedings. Urfan Sharif, 42, the father of the 10-year-old, along with her stepmother Beinash Batool, 30, and uncle Faisal Malik, 29, had previously pleaded not guilty to murder following the discovery of Sara’s body, which bore numerous injuries, at their residence in Woking, Surrey, during the previous year. During cross-examination at the Old Bailey, Mr. Sharif stated: “She died because of me.” Earlier in the trial, the court was informed that Sara had endured being hooded, burned, and beaten over a period exceeding two years. Previously, the jury had been presented with Mr. Sharif’s defense, which asserted that Ms. Batool was accountable for Sara’s death, and that his confession in a phone call and a written note was fabricated to shield his wife. However, on Wednesday, at the commencement of the court day, Mr. Sharif unexpectedly declared: “I admit what I said in my phone call and my written note. Every single word.” While being questioned by Caroline Carberry KC, Ms. Batool’s barrister, Mr. Sharif abruptly stated: “I want to say something.” Ms. Carberry KC inquired: “Do you accept that you had been beating Sara severely over a number of weeks?” He responded: “Yes.” Ms. Carberry KC further asked: “On the night of 6 August, you badly beat Sara?” He affirmed: “Yes.” As his confessions mounted, several jury members appeared visibly surprised. At that point, Ms. Batool, who had been audibly weeping, exited the courtroom. He further informed the jurors that he inflicted fractures upon Sara and struck her with a cricket bat and a metal pole while she was bound with tape. Nevertheless, Mr. Sharif subsequently claimed his intention was solely to “discipline” Sara. Mr. Sharif stated to the court: “I didn’t want to kill her.” Earlier, Ms. Carberry KC had questioned Mr. Sharif: “You have pleaded not guilty to the offence of murder. Would you like that charge to be put to you again?” His barrister, Naeem Mian KC, then rose and requested an opportunity to confer with his client. Following a recess, Mr. Sharif chose not to alter his plea. On Wednesday afternoon, Ms. Carberry KC questioned Mr. Sharif regarding the moments preceding Sara’s death on 8 August. Mr. Sharif recounted arriving home that evening and proceeding upstairs, where he discovered his daughter unwell in a bedroom alongside Ms. Batool. Mr. Sharif concurred with Ms. Carberry KC’s assertion that he did not believe Sara was genuinely ill. Ms. Carberry KC stated: “You said to Beinash that Sara was pretending, she was acting up…you took the metal pole…you gave her couple of whacks on the abdomen while she was lying there very unwell.” Mr. Sharif, while weeping, confirmed the accuracy of this statement. Ms. Carberry KC proceeded: “Beinash said we need an ambulance…you refused to allow Beinash to call an ambulance, didn’t you?” Mr. Sharif responded: “Yes ma’am.” A post-mortem examination revealed that Sara had sustained numerous injuries, among them “probable human bite marks,” an iron burn, and scalding from hot water, prior to her death on 8 August 2023. Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones KC had previously stated that a bloodstained cricket bat, a rolling pin bearing Sara’s DNA, a metal pole, a belt, and rope were discovered close to the family’s outhouse. Mr. Sharif, Ms. Batool, and Mr. Malik, who is Urfan’s brother, had all previously pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and causing or allowing the death of a child.