Court Hears Stepmother of Sara Sharif Was Described as ‘Possessed’

Testimony presented in court indicated that the stepmother charged with the murder of 10-year-old Sara Sharif was described as “possessed” as if “someone has done black magic on her”. The Old Bailey heard that Sara’s body, bearing dozens of injuries, was discovered at the family’s residence in Woking, Surrey, last year. Urfan Sharif, 42, Sara’s father; Beinash Batool, 30, her stepmother; and Faisal Malik, 29, her uncle, have all entered pleas of not guilty to murder. During his testimony, Mr Sharif informed jurors that Ms Batool was abusive towards him and that her relatives had communicated to him that she had a “problem”. He stated to the court, “She’s very, very crazy when she goes into that mindset. She doesn’t stop.” Mr Sharif further testified to jurors, “Her family would come and say, ‘do not leave her’. Her family said, ‘she is possessed [like] someone has done black magic on her’.” He additionally denied ever physically harming Sara, asserting that no single incident involving him and the children occurred while he was present at home. “Everything happened at home while I was at work,” he informed the court. Jurors were informed that Mr Sharif’s defense posits that Ms Batool was accountable for Sara’s demise, and that he made a false confession via a phone call and in a written note to safeguard his wife. Mr Sharif stated to the court that he was “cursing” himself for abandoning Sara “like an orphan” following his journey to Pakistan on 9 August 2023, which was the day prior to Sara’s body being discovered. On Wednesday, two videos recorded by Mr Sharif on his mobile phone were presented to the jurors. Mr Sharif recounted that Ms Batool had accused him of flirting with a hospital nurse, subsequently “abused” him at their residence, and “did not let me get out of the house” in February 2016. He informed the court, “She was twisting my hands. Before that she kicked me.” The video shown to jurors captured Mr Sharif telling his wife, “you’re pushing me,” and stating his intention to use the recording as “evidence against her.” In the second recording, which was filmed in June 2019, Mr Sharif can be heard repeatedly instructing Ms Batool to “let me go” and “leave me alone.” Subsequently, Mr Sharif is observed climbing out of the kitchen window. He testified to the court that Ms Batool had “slapped” him, further stating that “she locked the front door” and “she gets really angry.” Mr Sharif also informed jurors that the decision to home school Sara was made by Ms Batool. He mentioned that Sara had told him she was experiencing bullying, but he initially disagreed with Ms Batool’s choice to home school their daughter. Naeem Mian KC, representing Mr Sharif, had previously stated to the court that Ms Batool was “the true villain.” He informed the jurors that Mr Sharif returned home on 8 August 2023 to discover Sara “limp,” subsequently attempting CPR and pleading for an ambulance to be summoned. Mr Mian KC added that Ms Batool told him, “He was told in Urdu or Punjabi, ‘leave it, she’s dead’.” The court had previously been informed that Sara endured more than two years of abuse, during which she was hooded, burned, and beaten. A post-mortem examination revealed that Sara had sustained dozens of injuries, including “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 near the family’s outhouse. The court was also previously informed that Mr Sharif, Ms Batool, and Mr Malik traveled to Islamabad, Pakistan, accompanied by other family members, on 9 August 2023. Prosecutors asserted that Mr Sharif contacted police from Pakistan and confessed to killing Sara approximately an hour after his family’s flight had arrived in Islamabad. The three defendants, who resided with Sara in Woking prior to her death, also face charges of causing or allowing the death of a child, which they deny.