Sara Sharif Murder Trial: Father Admits Killing Daughter, Reveals Chilling Details Of Abuse

The trial of Sara Sharif's father and his relatives has revealed disturbing new details about the 10-year-old British-Pakistani girl's tragic death, shaking the United Kingdom.

Sara's father, Urfan Sharif, has admitted to killing his daughter but claims the act was unintentional. His confession has shed light on the horrific abuse Sara endured in her short life.

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A Shocking Discovery

Sara Sharif, the daughter of a taxi driver, was found dead in August 2023 at her family home in Woking, southern England. Her body was discovered on her bed, bearing multiple fractures, bite marks, and burn injuries, signalling the extreme abuse she had suffered.

The discovery of Sara's body led to a massive manhunt for the family members believed to be responsible for her death. These included her father, Urfan Sharif (42), her stepmother, Beinash Batool (30), and her uncle, Faisal Malik (29). After fleeing to Pakistan the day after Sara's death, the family returned to the UK a month later and has since been on trial for their alleged involvement in the crime. All three have denied charges of causing or allowing Sara's death.

Father's Confession

During the trial, Urfan Sharif admitted that he killed his daughter but insisted he did not intend to harm her. He acknowledged beating Sara, even as she lay dying. Sharif revealed that he had given Sara multiple fractures weeks before her death, using a cricket bat while she was bound with packaging tape. He also confessed to throttling her with his bare hands and breaking her neck.

"I can take full responsibility. I accept everything," Sharif told the court. Despite his confession, he maintained that he did not mean to kill his daughter, only to discipline her. He explained that the violence escalated when Sara collapsed and was near death, but he continued to beat her.

A Decade of Abuse

Sara's tragic death did not come suddenly. WhatsApp messages from Batool to her sister revealed during the trial, indicated that Sara had been subjected to years of physical abuse. Batool reported incidents where Sara had been beaten severely for being "rude and rebellious." One message described Sara as being "covered in bruises, literally beaten black." Batool even mentioned that Sara had a "jinn" in her, a reference to supernatural beings, which she believed caused Sara's behaviour.

Further evidence presented in court showed that Sara's school had raised concerns about the girl's injuries. Teachers noticed bruising on Sara's body in 2022 and 2023, but Sara was reluctant to speak about her injuries. On one occasion, she hid her head in her arms when questioned by teachers, who eventually reported the abuse to child welfare services.

A Family's Flight and Aftermath

After Sara's death, the family fled to Pakistan, leaving behind a note, allegedly written by Urfan Sharif, in which he took responsibility for his daughter's death. However, Sharif later claimed that the confession was dictated by his wife, Batool, to protect their other children. Before leaving, Sharif made arrangements for the police to access the house, leaving the keys under the doormat to avoid forced entry.

In a phone call to UK police, Sharif admitted, "I killed my daughter, I killed my daughter," and explained that the death occurred because he had "punished" Sara too harshly. He described his actions as a mistake, saying, "I didn't want to kill her, but I beat her too much."

Despite his claims, the authorities believe the family had planned to flee the country immediately after the murder, possibly fearing the consequences of their actions. Sara's body was discovered after a tip-off from Sharif in Pakistan.

A Troubled Home Life

Sara's abuse was not limited to physical violence. Neighbours reported hearing frequent shouting and crying from the household. Rebecca Spencer, a neighbour who lived below the Sharif family, testified that she often heard Batool screaming at Sara and noticed the sounds of someone trying to escape from a locked room. Such reports, along with the ongoing abuse, paint a grim picture of Sara's home life leading up to her tragic death.

As the trial continues, the court will decide the extent of the responsibility each family member holds for Sara's suffering and death. The case has brought to light the horrors of domestic violence and the systemic failures that allowed such abuse to go unnoticed for so long.