Slain Sara’s father, stepmother jailed for life

LONDON: Sara Sharif’s Pakistani father and stepmother have been jailed for life for years of horrific “torture” and “despicable” abuse culminating in her murder.

The 10-year-old suffered “unimaginable pain, misery and anxiety” as she was repeatedly beaten, burned, bitten and restrained at the family home in Woking, Surrey, the court heard. Urfan Sharif, 42, and Beinash Batool, 30, had tried to cover up the abuse, twice taking her out of school, and then fled to Pakistan after she died, prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones KC said.

On Tuesday, the couple were jailed for life for her murder, with Sharif handed a minimum term of 40 years and Batool given 33 years. Sara’s uncle, Faisal Malik, 29, who was found guilty of causing or allowing her death, was jailed for 16 years. There were cries of “yes” from the public gallery but the defendants made no reaction and stood with heads bowed in the dock as they were sentenced.

In a televised sentencing at the Old Bailey, Justice Cavanagh said Sara’s death “was the culmination of years of neglect, frequent assaults and what can only be described as torture”, mainly at the hands of Sharif. The senior judge said her “despicable treatment” took place in “plain sight and in front of the rest of the family”. He told Sharif: “You treated her in such a way because you considered it your right to impose harsh discipline on her. “Sara was a brave, feisty and spirited child. She was not as submissive as you wanted her to be. She stood up to you. “I do not doubt that your ego and sense of self-importance was boosted by the power you wielded over her and the rest of the family.” Batool was prepared to “sacrifice” her stepdaughter, the judge said: “Put bluntly, you did not care about Sara enough to save her.” He dismissed as “preposterous” any suggestion that Malik was too busy on his phone and wearing earbuds to notice what was happening. Justice Cavanagh said the case “starkly demonstrated” the dangers of vulnerable children like Sara being home-schooled and had raised concern over whether anything could have been done to prevent the tragedy.

Earlier, Sara’s mother Olga Sharif, who attended court by video link, said Sara was “always smiling” and had her “own unique character”. In a victim impact statement, she said: “She is now an angel who looks down on us from heaven, she is no longer experiencing violence. “To this day, I can’t understand how someone can be such a sadist to a child. Addressing the defendants in the dock, she said: “You are sadists although even this word is not enough for you. I would say you are executioners.”

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. “Today’s sentences reflect the cruelty and gravity of their crimes, and while no sentence can bring Sara back, we hope this outcome can provide some comfort to all those who knew and loved her.”