Sara Sharif’s Father Tells Jury He Was ‘Worst Parent on the Planet’

Urfan Sharif, the father of Sara Sharif, informed a jury that he considered himself the “worst parent on the planet.” During cross-examination at the Old Bailey, Mr. Sharif characterized his parenting as “very bad” and conceded to being unkind and cruel. The court was previously informed that Sara endured over two years of abuse, which included being hooded, burned, and beaten, before her discovery deceased at her family residence in Woking, Surrey, last year. Mr. Sharif, 42, along with Sara’s stepmother Beinash Batool, 30, and her uncle, Faisal Malik, 29, have all entered pleas of not guilty to charges of murder and causing or allowing the death of a child. A post-mortem examination revealed that Sara had sustained numerous injuries, including “probable human bite marks,” an iron burn, and scalding from hot water, prior to her death on 8 August 2023. Mr. Sharif acknowledged that violence towards Sara had, at points, become “normalised” within the household; however, he asserted that his brother, Mr. Malik, who resided with the family, was not aware of Sara being subjected to beatings at home. The prosecution questioned Mr. Sharif regarding how other occupants of the compact three-bedroom residence could have been unaware of the violence inflicted upon Sara. Mr. Sharif stated, “Everything was separate from Faisal Malik.” During cross-examination, he faced inquiries concerning a burn on Sara’s buttocks and bite marks, which he denies inflicting. Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones KC asked Mr. Sharif, “To do that to Sara, to press and hold the iron across both her buttocks, two people had to do that?” Mr. Sharif responded to the jurors, “I don’t know how it happened.” Mr. Emlyn Jones KC inquired whether someone would have needed to hold Sara down and restrain her. Mr. Sharif informed the court, “I don’t know sir, must have been the kids.” Mr. Emlyn Jones KC posed the question: “How low will you stoop?” The court had previously been informed 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. Emlyn Jones KC pressed Mr. Sharif, asking: “When you beat Sara so hard with a cricket bat that you broke her spine, did you intend to cause her a really serious injury?” Mr. Sharif replied, “No sir.” Jurors were previously informed that Mr. Sharif’s defense asserted Ms. Batool’s responsibility for Sara’s death, and that he had made a false confession via a phone call and a note to shield his wife. However, on Wednesday, he altered his testimony, stating: “She died because of me.” Subsequently, he denied any intent to kill her. The trial is ongoing.