Urfan Sharif Testifies Wife Refused Ambulance Call for Sara

Urfan Sharif, the father of 10-year-old Sara Sharif, testified in court that he performed CPR on his daughter after her death, and that his wife declined to summon an ambulance. Mr. Sharif recounted arriving home on the evening of August 8 last year, discovering Beinash Batool seated on the bedroom floor, cradling Sara. Two days subsequent to this, law enforcement officials located Sara’s body, bearing numerous injuries, at the family’s residence in Woking, Surrey. Mr. Sharif, aged 42, Ms. Batool, aged 30, and Sara’s uncle, Faisal Malik, aged 29, have all entered pleas of not guilty to murder charges at the Old Bailey. During his testimony, Sara’s father stated that Ms. Batool informed him the girl had tumbled down the stairs during play with another child, and was now merely “pretending” and “being dramatic”. Mr. Sharif recalled telling Sara to “get up” and taking her arm, but noted it was unresponsive. He stated, “Then I took Sara from Beinash’s lap.” He added, “[Sara] whispered and opened her mouth a bit. [Sara] said she is thirsty and she needs water.” Mr. Sharif informed the jury that he requested water and placed Sara on the bed, but his wife instructed him to move her to the floor. He testified, “I shouted for an ambulance because I could not hear her breathing, I checked her pulse under the ear, it was none. I had done my first aid training two times.” He further stated that he administered CPR to Sara for over ten minutes until Ms. Batool told him to cease. Mr. Sharif recounted asking about the ambulance’s whereabouts, to which Ms. Batool responded: “It’s no point. There’s no need because she’s dead.” Mr. Sharif observed a red mark encircling Sara’s neck, at which point Ms. Batool presented a “second story,” asserting Sara had been involved in an altercation with another child. Defence barrister Naeem Mian KC questioned him, asking, “Why didn’t you call the police?” Mr. Sharif responded: “I was thinking about the other kids. They are going to be taken into care. [The child] is going to go to prison.” He informed the court: “So much was going on under my nose and I didn’t know it.” Mr. Sharif stated that on that same evening, Ms. Batool contacted a travel agent to initiate the booking of flights for the entire family, excluding Sara, to travel to Pakistan. They departed the country the following day. Jurors were informed that hours after Sara’s death, Ms. Batool also used her phone to show Mr. Sharif the distinction between murder and manslaughter. Mr. Sharif remarked, “She is very good at Googling stuff.” He additionally informed jurors that a discussion occurred regarding whether Mr. Sharif should accept responsibility for Sara’s death. He further stated that Ms. Batool preferred Mr. Malik to take the blame, citing his lack of responsibilities. Upon police arrival at the house, following Mr. Sharif’s call from Pakistan, a handwritten note was discovered near Sara’s body, which stated: “Whoever see this note it’s me Urfan Sharif who killed my daughter by beating.” The jury has been apprised that Ms. Batool and Mr. Sharif present conflicting accounts of the events. The court had previously been informed that Sara endured hooding, burning, and beatings over a period exceeding two years of abuse. A post-mortem examination revealed Sara sustained numerous injuries, including “probable human bite marks,” an iron burn, and scalding from hot water, prior to her death on August 8, 2023. Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones KC previously stated that a bloodstained cricket bat, a rolling pin bearing Sara’s DNA, a metal pole, a belt, and rope were discovered in proximity to the family’s outhouse. The three defendants, who resided with Sara in Woking before her demise, also face charges of causing or allowing the death of a child, which they deny.