Surrey: Urfan Sharif, the father of Sara Sharif, a 10-year-old British-Pakistani girl whose death led to a global manhunt last year, allegedly forced his daughter to do sit-ups all night after she hid his keys, as detailed in a recent court hearing. Reports from The Guardian describe that Sharif, accused of frequently beating Sara, even instructed his wife, Beinash Batool, to cover up the child’s bruises with makeup and sunglasses to prevent teachers from discovering the alleged abuse.
On Thursday, prosecutors presented a disturbing series of WhatsApp messages from 2019 to 2023 between Batool and her sisters, in which Batool reportedly called Sharif a “psycho” and described his violent behaviour towards Sara. Batool allegedly told her sister that she had to intervene to protect Sara, as Sharif’s attacks intensified, sometimes leaving Sara unable to walk.
Three relatives on trial
Sharif, 42, Batool, 30 and Sharif’s brother Faisal Malik, 29, are currently on trial for allegedly conducting what the prosecution has called a “campaign of abuse” against the young girl. The abuse reportedly resulted in Sara’s death on August 8, 2023, after which the trio fled to Pakistan. According to court testimony, Sharif later called police from abroad, admitting he had “beat her up too much” and left a written note near Sara’s body apologising for his actions.
In further messages revealed in court, Batool expressed regret and fear over the abuse, stating that if Sara exposed the extent of her bruises, Sharif would “regret it.” She also shared photos of Sara’s injuries with her sister, lamenting the ongoing violence but seemingly feeling powerless to prevent it. At times, Batool considered removing Sara from school due to her visible injuries.
Defendants deny charges
Despite the brutal claims, all three defendants deny any involvement in Sara’s death, as the prosecution continues to present its case against them. The trial remains is going on, with jurors told to examine the messages as evidence of alleged abuse within the household.
