London, December 17,2024: A UK court has sentenced Urfan Sharif, 43, and Beinash Batool, 30, to life imprisonment for the murder of 10-year-old Sara Sharif, their daughter and stepdaughter, following prolonged abuse. Sara was found dead in August 2023 at her home in Woking, with injuries including burns, broken bones, and bite marks.
The couple fled to Pakistan after her death but were arrested at Gatwick Airport in September upon returning to the UK. Sara’s uncle, Faisal Malik, 29, was acquitted of murder but convicted of causing or allowing her death and sentenced to 16 years in prison.
Sara’s death exposed significant failings in child protection services. Despite a history of abuse allegations, Sharif was granted custody of Sara and her brother in 2019. Concerns raised by her school in early 2023 were not acted upon, and Sharif withdrew Sara from school in April, claiming she would be homeschooled.
Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza called Sara’s death “a stark failure” of the child protection system. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has since pledged to strengthen safeguards for homeschooled children through proposed legislation.
Sentencing Sharif and Batool, Judge John Cavanagh described their treatment of Sara as “torture” and among the most appalling crimes heard at the Old Bailey. Sara’s mother, Olga Domin, called the pair “executioners” in a court statement, expressing deep grief over her daughter’s suffering.
This tragic case has renewed public calls for reform to prevent similar failures in protecting vulnerable children.
