The father and stepmother of Sara Sharif have been handed life sentences for their killing of the 10-year-old.
Urfan Sharif, 43, was jailed for a minimum term of 40 years and Beinash Batool, 30, will serve at least 33 years for their murder of the schoolgirl who they subject to “what can only be described as torture”.
Sara’s uncle, 29-year-old Faisal Malik, who lived in the family home, was cleared of her murder but found guilty of causing or allowing her death and was jailed for 16 years.
The three did not react at the Old Bailey as they were jailed for their of Sara.
Sentencing them, Mr Justice John Cavanagh said that although the Old Bailey had heard many crimes, “few can have been more terrible” than their treatment of the youngster.
The trio were convicted last week following an eight-week trial in which jurors heard Sara suffered more than 25 broken bones, scalding marks to her feet, and human bites during a campaign of abuse.
Sara’s body was found at the family’s home in Surrey last year after being victim to treatment the judge described as “nothing short of gruesome”.
Mr Justice Cavanagh, giving his reasons for the sentences, said that Sara’s death was the “culmination of years of neglect, frequent assaults and what can only be described as the torture of [Sara]”.
He said her death illustrated the “dangers” of unsupervised home schooling as the couple managed to withdraw her from school when safeguarding issues were raised.
None of the defendants had shown a “shred of remorse”, he added.
At the court hearing, Sara’s mother, Olga Domin, described her daughter’s killers as “sadists” and “executioners”.
In a statement read to the court, she said: “To this day I can’t understand how someone can be such a sadist to a child.
“What has come out in court… I cannot understand what is wrong with these people.”
In court, Sara’s family fought over who was most to blame, as Naeem Mian KC, for Sharif, claimed Batool was “equally culpable” for her death and encouraging the judge to “not draw any distinction between them”.
In response, Batool’s barrister, Caroline Carberry KC, said her client was “subordinate” to her husband, who had been the “instigator of violence” against her stepdaughter.
However, sentencing them, Mr Justice Cavanagh said the couple had “singled out” Sara because she was not Batool’s biological daughter with “truly horrific” treatment of which there were “a number of particular disturbing features”.
He said Sharif was mainly responsible for the “campaign of abuse” – and that the degree of cruelty was “unbelievable” and “happened in plain sight”.
The judge said Sara’s uncle, Malik, had “stood by and did nothing” when he must have been aware of the beatings, burnings and tying up and hooding she suffered.
He described Sara as a “brave, feisty and spirited child” who was “not submissive as her father wanted her to be.
“She stood up to you,” he said.
“She was a very courageous little girl, with an unquenchable spirit.”
03:19 PM GMT
Today’s live blog has now closed
That’s all from today’s coverage of the sentencing of Sara Sharif’s family at the Old Bailey.
01:47 PM GMT
NSPCC calls for ‘fundamental’ reform to prevent similar tragedies
The NSPCC has called on the Government to recognise that “fundamental” reform to children’s protection services is needed to prevent “similar tragedies”.
In a statement released after the sentencing, Maria Neophytou, acting CEO of the NSPCC, said: “The Child Safeguarding Practice Review must undertake an exhaustive search for answers so we can understand how this horrific abuse was able to happen, and for so long.
“The recommendations must then be quickly implemented, to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in Surrey, and across the UK.
“At the same time the Government must recognise something more fundamental has to change.”
She said Sara had joined a “lengthening list” of victims from recent years – including the likes of Arthur Labinjo Hughes, Star Hobson and Alfie Phillips – who all suffered horrific abuse from a parent or carer which directly led to their death.
“To significantly reduce the likelihood of more of these terrible cases emerging, there needs to be substantial, nationwide reform and investment in the services which we rely on to keep our children safe,” she added.
01:42 PM GMT
Sara’s uncle jailed after judge ruled he knew of Sara’s abuse
Faisal Malik was today jailed for 16 years
Sara’s uncle, Faisal Malik was today jailed for 16 years, having been cleared of her murder but found guilty of causing or allowing her death.
In his sentencing remarks, Mr Justice Cavanagh said he had “no doubt whatsoever” that he had been aware of the campaign of torture that was being perpetrated against the 10-year-old.
01:35 PM GMT
Sara’s body found after father’s call to police
Sharif was today jailed for a minimum of 40 years after being convicted of the “horrific” murder of his 10-year-old daughter.
His conviction comes after he called Surrey Police from Islamabad, having fled to Pakistan with Batool and the rest of their family.
In it, he told the call handler: “It wasn’t my intention to kill her, but I beat her up too much.”
The couple, along with Sara’s uncle, were eventually arrested on suspicion of murder at Gatwick Airport on returning to the UK from Pakistan in September last year.
01:15 PM GMT
Defendants called ‘evil’ by those in public gallery
Viewers in the public gallery applauded when the sentence was read out.
After Mr Justice Cavanagh passed sentence on Urfan Sharif, Beinash Batool and Faisal Malik, somebody shouted ‘evil’ as they were taken down.
None of the defendants reacted as the sentences were read out.
01:07 PM GMT
Sentences ‘reflect cruelty and gravity’ of their crimes
Libby Clark from the Crown Prosecution Service said: “Sara Sharif was a lively and joyful 10-year-old girl whose life was tragically cut short by the very people who should have protected and cared for her.
“The evidence in this case painted a devastating picture of the suffering Sara experienced leading up to her death and the campaign of abuse she was being subjected to in her own family home.
“Her injuries revealed the extent of the cruelty inflicted upon her, while the defendants’ actions after her death demonstrated a shocking disregard for her life as they attempted to flee the country to evade justice, thinking only of themselves.
“Whilst her father and stepmother were responsible for subjecting Sara to horrific abuse, her uncle took no action to stop or report it.”
She continued: “This has been an incredibly complex and distressing case, and it is thanks to the tireless work of the prosecution team, Surrey Police, international partners, and the CPS International Unit that we were able to secure justice for Sara.
“I also want to thank the jury for their careful consideration of the harrowing evidence presented in court.
“Today’s sentences reflect the cruelty and gravity of their crimes – and while no sentence can bring Sara back, we hope this outcome is able to provide some small comfort to all those that knew and loved her.”
01:03 PM GMT
Sara’s father and stepmother jailed for life
Urfan Sharif has been sentenced to a minimum term of 40 years for killing his 10-year-old daughter after years of horrific abuse.
Stepmother Beinash Batool, 30, was jailed for a minimum term of 33 years.
Her uncle, Faisal Malik, 29, who was cleared of murder but found guilty of causing or allowing her death, was sentenced to 16 years in prison.
Mr Justice Cavanagh told him he would serve two thirds of this in custody before being released on licence.
12:56 PM GMT
Sara’s father got ‘grim satisfaction’ from abuse of Sara
Mr Justice Cavanagh said that he had “no doubt” that Urfan Sharif “derived grim satisfaction from your campaign of violence” against his own daughter.
He said that Sara’s history with social services, and the numerous abuse allegations against Sharif “inevitably raise questions about whether more could have been done to prevent the tragic consequences.”
However, he said it was not his role to determine whether more could have been done.
Mr Justice Cavanagh delivering his sentencing remarks at the Old Bailey – PA Video/Cameras in Court/PA Wire
12:44 PM GMT
Judge says Sara’s death illustrates ‘dangers’ of unsupervised home schooling
Mr Justice Cavanagh said Sara’s death and abuse shows the “dangers of unsupervised home schooling of vulnerable children”.
Addressing Sharif and Batool, he said: “When they felt they needed to, you were able to hide the abuse that Sara was suffering with the simple expedient of announcing that she was to be home schooled.”
Whilst recognising there were sometimes legitimate cases for home schooling, he added: “This case starkly illustrates the dangers.
“It’s a matter of concern that parents who are abusing or who have malign intent towards their children appear to be able to home school more or less at will and without supervision.”
After the trial concluded, The Telegraph and other media organisations published details of the lengthy history of abuse allegations against Sharif made by former partners, and Sara’s siblings.
The confidential documents revealed that children in his care were beaten, bitten and burnt before Sara was murdered.
Sara had been placed on a child protection plan on the day she was born and later spent time in foster care.
12:31 PM GMT
Treatment of Sara was ‘nothing short of gruesome’, judge says
Mr Justice Cavanagh said that Sara was repeatedly beaten with a cricket bat, a metal pole and strangled.
He said her injuries – which included 25 separate fractures – were of a “severity that is rare even in road traffic accidents”.
“This poor child was battered with great force again and again,” he said.
He said that there was evidence Sara had been “very vigorously and energetically” strangled as a bone in her neck was broken.
The judge added that in the last weeks of her life, Sara was tied up, trussed up, with masking tape and with skipping rope.
He added: “Even worse, she was hooded.”
He said the treatment of Sara was nothing short of “gruesome” and noted that she had been hooded while being restrained.
“It is hard to imagine how terrifying it must have been for Sara”, he said.
12:18 PM GMT
‘Particularly disturbing’ features to abuse of Sara by her father and stepmother
Mr Justice Cavanagh said that “there are a number of particular disturbing features” about the way in which Sharif and Batool treated Sara.
He said it was clear that Sara was “singled out” among her siblings for the treatment.
The judge added that Batool and Sharif “cared much less for Sara” because she wasn’t Batool’s biological daughter and that Sara’s brother was treated differently because he was a boy.
Sara was treated as “a skivvy” from a very young age, Mr Justice Cavanagh said. She was made to do chores constantly and Batool and Sharif treated her as if she was “worthless”.
He said that Sharif considered it to be “his right to impose harsh discipline upon her”.
Mr Justice Cavanagh said that Sara was a “brave, feisty” girl who “was not submissive” as Sharif wanted her to be.
“She stood up to you,” he said.
He said that he had no doubt that Sharif’s “ego and self importance” were boosted by the power he held over Sara.
During her police interviews, Batool answered “no comment” when asked “do you love Sara?” and “did you care about her at all?”
Surrey Police
12:10 PM GMT
Cruelty Sara’s father inflicted on her was ‘unbelievable’
Mr Justice Cavanagh, giving his reasons for the sentences he is about to pass, said that Sara’s death was the “culmination of years of neglect, frequent assaults and what can only be described as the torture of [Sara]”.
He said that judges had to be careful using the phrase torture but it was accurate to describe their “campaign of abuse” as torture.
He said Sharif was mainly responsible – and that the degree of cruelty was “unbelievable” and “happened in plain sight”.
He said none of the defendants had shown a “shred of remorse”.
12:05 PM GMT
The Old Bailey has seen few cases as ‘terrible’ as this, judge says
Beginning his sentencing remarks, Mr Justice John Cavanagh said it was “no exaggeration” to call the treatment of Sara “torture”.
Addressing the defendants, he said: “The courts at the Old Bailey have been witness to many accounts of awful crime.
“But few can have been more terrible than the account of the despicable treatment of this poor child the jury in this case have had to endure.”
11:45 AM GMT
Malik ‘lacked courage’ to intervene, court hears
Mr Ivers KC said there was “zero evidence” that Sara’s uncle had ever “actively prevented” anyone seeking help for Sara.
“But here Sara’s mother is right, he lacked courage,” he said.
“He did not intervene when he should have intervened… Yes he should have done but he lacked the courage to do so.”
He added: “He was not a forceful or confident character, far from it. He was an unconfident person and as I have accepted someone who lacked the courage to do what he should have done.
“For that lack of courage he is facing sentence today for this very serious offence.”
11:35 AM GMT
Sara’s uncle had “no idea” of household he was entering
Faisal Malik was cleared of Sara’s murder but convicted of causing or allowing her death.
Representing him, Michael Ivers KC said that he had only arrived in the country nine months before the 10-year-old died and had good intentions to study and gain a degree.
“He had absolutely no idea of the dysfunctional family and dysfunctional household he was entering into,” he added.
He said there was evidence he wasn’t present during “much of the violence”.
Mr Ivers said that Sara was forced to wear a hijab almost all the time and that as a result the true extent of Sara’s bruising would have been hidden from Malik.
11:31 AM GMT
Sara’s stepmother has “deep personal regret” for not leaving Sharif
Ms Carberry said that her “complex family background and personal circumstances” made it difficult to leave Sharif and take the children with her.
She said: “Through me, Beinash Batool expresses genuine remorse for Sara’s unintended death…. deep personal regret for remaining in her relationship with Sharif and true sorrow that she did not remove the children from harm.”
She added: “An additional harsh punishment for Batool is she is unlikely to ever see or hear from her young children who are likely to remain in Pakistan with [Sharif’s] family.
Flowers and notes left outside the property in Woking, Surrey, where 10-year-old Sara Sharif’s body was found – Jonathan Brady/PA Wire
11:22 AM GMT
‘Normal family life’ continued through Sara’s abuse
Ms Carberry KC said that despite the abuse of Sara, the other children were well looked after and the “features of neglect which are so often present in cases such as this”, such as poor hygiene and malnourishment, were not there.
She added: “It is very clear that normal family life was sustained against the background of Sara’s appalling treatment.”
She said it was “just and appropriate” for Mr Justice Cavanagh to “distinguish between these two defendants” and Sharif and Batool were not “equally culpable”.
An undated picture of Sara Sharif at school – Surrey Police/AFP
11:17 AM GMT
Sara’s father was the ‘instigator of violence’, claims her stepmother
In response, Caroline Carberry KC, for Batool, said her role was “subordinate” to Urfan Sharif.
“This court can be sure on the available evidence, including observing Urfan Sharif in evidence comfortably lying over many days, that he is a controlling, manipulative and violent man,” she said.
She said that Sharif was the “instigator of violence” and also the “long term inflictor of violence”.
Ms Carberry KC said that WhatsApp messages showed that Batool had tried, on occasion, to protect Sara from Sharif. Ms Carberry said that she requested help form her family but was “ignored”.
In one message to her sister, Batool said that if “something happens to Sara I will never forgive myself”. Ms Carberry said that the message was a “terrible foretelling” of what was to come.
She argued that Batool should be given a life term with a minimum term of 15 years as she was “a secondary party to Sara’s murder”.
Ms Carberry KC said she was the main carer for the six children and had a lengthy history of depression and self harm.
During the trial WhatsApp messages between Batool and her sister were shown to jurors and revealed the extent to which Sharif abused Sara.
https://part.icle.link/vpia765
11:08 AM GMT
Sara’s father says stepmother is ‘equally’ to blame for her death
In mitigation for Sharif, Naeem Mian KC, said that “nothing I say is intended to diminish or mitigate the horror that poor child was put through”.
He said that the details of the horror Sara “quite rightly” evoke a “sense of outrage, anger and disgust”.
He added that Sharif “accepts responsibility for that which he did” but said he was not at home the whole time and was out working constantly.
He said that Batool was “equally as culpable and therefore your lordship ought not to draw any distinction between them.”
He added: “Mr Sharif knows a sentence of great substance awaits him.
“He understands what that means for him given the age he is now. He is conscious and accepts at last that which he is responsible for. In the circumstances there is precious little else one can advance for him”.
10:53 AM GMT
Violence against Sara was ‘not just excessive but sustained’, court hears
Prosecutor Mr Emlyn Jones KC said that “serious violence was meted out to Sara not just for months but for years before her death”.
He said that it was a case which “bristled with aggravating features”.
“This is the murder of a child, someone especially vulnerable virtue of her age – she was ten at the time of her death.
“She had suffered serious violence since the age of at least six.”
He said that the defendants had use “a variety of weapons” to inflict “excessive and sustained violence”.
“There was the use of a variety of weapons, the use of a cricket bat, an improvised truncheon from the broken leg of a high chair, burns caused by a domestic iron.
“Indeed [she was] scalded with boiling liquid which appeared to have been poured on Sara at a time when she was restrained and couldn’t move away.
“The violence was not just excessive but sustained.”
He said that it was clear that the other children in the household had witnessed the violence Sara was subjected to and that too was an aggravating feature.
10:37 AM GMT
Sara Sharif’s mother: Her killers are ‘sadists’ and ‘executioners’
Sara’s mother, Olga Domin, attended the hearing remotely via video link having not been present throughout the trial.
In a brief victim impact statement read to the court by prosecutor William Emlyn Jones KC, she called the defendants “cowards”.
“Sara was always smiling,” she said.
“She had her own unique character. The only thing I had left to give to my daughter was to give her a beautiful Catholic funeral that she deserves.”
She said that her daughter was “now an angel” who is no longer experiencing violence.
She continued: “To this day I can’t understand how someone can be such a sadist to a child.
“What has come out in court… I cannot understand what is wrong with these people
“You are sadists although even this word is not enough for you. I would say you are executioners”
10:31 AM GMT
Timeline detailing events leading to Sara’s murder
10:25 AM GMT
Sara’s killers appear in court
Sara’s father, stepmother and uncle have appeared in the dock at the Old Bailey to be sentenced.
Batool, who appeared emotional as she entered the room, is dressed in a black suit while Malik is wearing a grey prison issue jumper. Sharif is wearing a grey quarter zip cardigan.
The trio are flanked by three security guards and the courtroom is full.
10:17 AM GMT
The Sara Sharif case is ‘utterly unspeakable’, the Education Secretary has said
Appearing on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme ahead of this morning’s sentencing, Bridget Phillipson said: “What we have seen and heard through the progress of the criminal trial is utterly unspeakable.
“The degree of violence that the poor young girl experienced is just absolutely sickening.”
She added: “I am pleased that her murderers will today be facing justice in their sentencing.”
10:14 AM GMT
Sara was forced to wear hijab to cover up bruises
Sara Sharif – Surrey Police
Sara suffered more than 25 broken bones, iron burns on her bottom, scalding marks to her feet, and human bites during a campaign of abuse spanning at least two years.
By January 2023, Sara began wearing a hijab to cover up the bruises at school.
Teachers had twice noticed marks on her face and referred her to social services last March, but the case was dropped within days and the following month Sara was taken out of school.
The finding prompted Sir Keir Starmer and Will Forster, who became the MP for Woking in July, to call for the review into Sara’s death to look at every aspect of her care.
Mr Forster said an inquest into Sara’s death should examine if concerns over cultural sensitivities meant teachers were afraid to question why she began wearing a hijab after being seen with bruises.
You can read the full story here
09:56 AM GMT
Family initially fled to Pakistan
Within hours of Sara’s death, Sharif and Batool had booked flights to Pakistan for the whole family, including her siblings and half siblings.
The defendants returned to the UK on September 13 2023 – leaving the children behind – and were detained within minutes of a flight touching down at Gatwick airport.
In his trial, Sharif initially blamed Batool for the violence before dramatically accepting “full responsibility”, leaving jurors open mouthed and tearful.
He later appeared to backtrack, denying he had bitten or burned Sara or covered her head in a hood.
09:50 AM GMT
WhatsApp messages revealed horrific abuse of Sara
WhatsApp messages sent by Batool to her sister provided a glimpse inside the family home and the regular beatings and punishments that Sara endured.
In them, she provided a snapshot of the daily beatings, punishments and violence that took place in Sharif’s house.
Jurors were shown messages where Batool told her sister Sharif was “beating Sara like crazy” and was “literally going to break her arm or her leg”.
The court heard her sister responded to one message saying: “Why doesn’t [Sara] learn?”
Batool replied: “Why the hell doesn’t Urfan learn? She is covered in bruises, literally beaten black.”
You can read the full story here.
09:46 AM GMT
Sharif said he had ‘legally punished’ Sara
During the trial at the Old Bailey, harrowing details of the abuse Sara suffered at the hands of Sharif and Batool came to light.
She was beaten with a cricket bat, burned with a domestic iron, restrained with packing tape, and forced to wear a homemade hood.
Her body was found at the family home in Woking, Surrey on August 10 last year after Sharif called police and told them he had “legally punished her” and “she died”.
Urfan Sharif, Beinash Batool and Faisal Malik – Surrey Police/AFP
09:43 AM GMT
Welcome to the blog
Good morning. Welcome to the blog which will be covering the sentencing of Sara Sharif’s father and stepmother.
Urfan Sharif, 43, and Beinash Batool, 30, were convicted of her murder after an eight-week trial at the Old Bailey.
Her uncle, Faisal Malik, 29, who was cleared of her murder but found guilty of causing or allowing her death will also be sentenced.
The hearing is listed to take place at 10am.
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