In a significant development in the decade long Sara Sharif murder case, a jury found all three accused, including her father, stepmother, and uncle, guilty on Wednesday.
According to a report by ARY News, the jury, consisting of nine women and three men, convicted Urfan Sharif and his partner, Beinsh Batool, of murdering their daughter, while her uncle, Faisal Malik, was found guilty of causing or allowing the murder of his niece.
High Court Judge Justice Cavanagh stated that sentencing for all three defendants will take place on Tuesday next week, describing the case as “very stressful and traumatic.”
Urfan Sharif, aged 41, Beinsh Batool, 29, and Faisal Malik, 28, were indicted after returning to the UK from Pakistan. Upon their arrival in London, the three were arrested and charged with the murder of Sara Sharif and causing or allowing the death of a child.
Initially, the trio denied the murder allegations, but during cross-examination, they admitted responsibility for the child’s death, leading to their indictment on charges of causing or allowing her death.
Sara Sharif, a 10-year-old British national, was found dead at her family home in Woking, Surrey, on August 10, 2023. Her body was discovered a day after her father, Urfan Sharif, fled to Pakistan with his partner, Benish Batool, and brother, Faisal Malik. The trio had booked one-way flights out of the country before her body was discovered.
Sara’s mother, Olga Sharif, married Urfan in November 2009, but their marriage ended in 2017. In 2019, her ex-husband was granted full custody of both Sara and her 13-year-old brother. Since then, Ms. Sharif claims she has only been allowed to see her children twice.
