Sara Sharif’s Father Denies Intentional Destruction of Phone Evidence

Urfan Sharif, Sara Sharif’s father, has refuted allegations of intentionally destroying phone evidence following the discovery of his daughter’s body with multiple injuries at their family residence. During his trial at the Old Bailey, Urfan Sharif faced questioning regarding why no family members had returned with their phones from Pakistan, a country they traveled to the day after 10-year-old Sara’s death. Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones KC stated that the jury was “denied the treasure trove” of messages, photos, and videos. Mr Sharif, 42, Sara’s stepmother Beinash Batool, 30, and her uncle, Faisal Malik, 29, have all pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and causing or allowing the death of a child. Warning: This article contains distressing details The court was previously informed that Sara had been subjected to being hooded, burned, and beaten over a period exceeding two years of abuse, prior to her body being discovered in a bunkbed at her home in Woking, Surrey, on 10 August 2023. Mr Emlyn Jones KC addressed Mr Sharif, stating: “If we had your phone, there would be tonnes of messages talking about Sara. Months, years of being punished, you were discussing in these messages. When you went to Pakistan, you made sure those phones didn’t come back.” Mr Sharif responded: “We did not leave the phones in Pakistan deliberately. The phones were in the car when the police raided.” The prosecutor further accused Mr Sharif of trying to manipulate the legal proceedings to his benefit, an allegation the defendant denied. A post-mortem examination determined that Sara had sustained dozens of injuries, including “probable human bite marks,” an iron burn, and scalding from hot water, before her death on 8 August 2023. Mr 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 in proximity to the family’s outhouse. Mr Sharif had previously accepted “full responsibility” for Sara’s death, but subsequently denied any intention to kill her. He also informed the jury that his earlier statement, in which he referred to his wife, Ms Batool, as a “psycho,” was untruthful. Mr Sharif acknowledged beating Sara, but denied inflicting bites or burns upon her. The court was previously apprised that Mr Sharif, Ms Batool, and Mr Malik traveled to Islamabad, Pakistan, accompanied by Sara’s five siblings, on 9 August 2023, the day preceding the discovery of her body. The trial is ongoing.