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Friday November 08, 2024

UK High Court to hear Sara Sharif murder trial next month

Trial will be conducted by British High Court judge Justice Cavanagh and is estimated to last up to seven weeks

By Web Desk
September 07, 2024
This image shows 10-year-old Sara Sharif. — Surrey Police/File
This image shows 10-year-old Sara Sharif. — Surrey Police/File

The United Kingdom's High Court is set to hear the Sara Sharif murder trial next month in which the 10-year-old's father, stepmother and uncle have been accused of committing the crime.

Sara's father Urfan Sharif, 42, his wife Beinash Batool, 29, and Urfan's brother, Faisal Malik, 28, are accused with the murder of the little girl after she was found dead at her home in Woking, Surrey, in August last year.

The trio appeared in court via video link as the British High Court decided to hear the trial on October 7 and before presenting the accused to the jury on October 14.

According to the BBC, the three suspects travelled to Islamabad, Pakistan, with Sara's five brothers and sisters on August 9, 2023, the day before her body was found.

A previous court hearing was told police found Sara's body after receiving a call from Pakistan, at 2:47pm on August 10.

The three adults were arrested on their return to the UK on September 13 and were charged two days later, with causing or allowing the death of a child.

The trio, who lived with Sara before her death, have denied all allegations and pleaded not guilty.

Sara had sustained "multiple and extensive injuries" before her death, according to a post-mortem examination. However, an inquest heard the actual cause of death had not yet been established.

The trial will be heard by High Court judge Justice Cavanagh and is estimated to last up to seven weeks, the BBC reported.