The father and stepmother of 10-year-old Sara Sharif have been sentenced at the Old Bailey following her brutal murder in a case that has shocked the nation.
Urfan Sharif, 42, and Beinash Batool, 30, were found guilty of murder last week after a harrowing 10-week trial. Sara’s uncle, Faisal Malik, 29, was also convicted of causing or allowing the death of a child.
The sentencing comes after details emerged of the sustained abuse Sara suffered, including being beaten with a cricket bat, burnt with an iron, and scalded with boiling liquid.
Judge Delivers Sentence
During today’s hearing, the judge, Mr Justice Cavanagh, condemned the defendants for their “unimaginable cruelty” and “abhorrent treatment” of a defenceless child. Urfan Sharif and Beinash Batool received life sentences, with a minimum term to be served before parole eligibility. Faisal Malik was handed a substantial prison term for his role in failing to prevent the abuse.
Sara’s Harrowing Last Weeks
Prosecutors revealed that Sara endured a prolonged period of violence over several years, with evidence showing fractures, burns, and bruising consistent with sustained abuse. She was found at her home in Woking, Surrey, on 10 August 2023, after her father called emergency services before fleeing to Pakistan with Batool and Malik.
Sara’s mother, Olga Sharif, called the trio “sadists, cowards, and executioners” in an emotional victim impact statement, describing her daughter as “a beautiful girl who deserved to be loved and safe.”
“She is now an angel looking down on us from heaven, no longer experiencing violence,” Olga said during the hearing.
Failed by the System
The case has raised renewed concerns about child protection failures. Sara had been removed from school for home education, prompting calls from the Children’s Commissioner for England for tighter regulations and a mandatory home education register to protect at-risk children.
Police and Public Reaction
Detective Chief Inspector Craig Emmerson, who led the investigation, described Sara’s murder as:
“A shocking and horrific case of child abuse that has appalled communities both here and abroad.”
He added: “Sara’s life was cruelly cut short by unspeakable violence at the hands of those who should have cared for her.”
The case has sparked widespread calls for justice reform, with public outrage over how such extreme abuse went undetected.
Moving Forward
Sara’s family and advocates hope her tragic death will lead to systemic changes to safeguard vulnerable children. The sentencing brings some closure but leaves lingering questions about how such horrific abuse occurred unnoticed.
This case serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the need to strengthen child protection measures across the UK.
