Long Sentences for Sara’s Murderers as Judge Describes Her Treatment as ‘Torture’

Published on: 17 Dec, 2024
Updated on: 17 Dec, 2024

Sara’s father Urfan Sharif and her stepmother Beinash Batool.

By Martin Giles

The father and stepmother of 10-year-old Sara Sharif were today (December 17) sentenced to life imprisonment with long minimum terms after being found guilty of her murder at the Old Bailey in London last week.

Faisal Malik. Surrey Police

Sara’s father, Urfan Sharif, 42, was ordered to serve a minimum term of 40 years, while Sara’s stepmother, Beinash Batool, 30, was ordered to serve a minimum term of 33 years.

Sara’s uncle, Faisal Malik, 29, was sentenced to 16 years’ imprisonment after being found guilty of causing or allowing Sara’s death.

All three were convicted last Wednesday following a 10-week trial at the Central Criminal Court.

Passing sentence, Justice John Cavanagh described Sara as a “beautiful little girl” who was “full of personality”. He went on to say that she was a “very courageous little girl” with an “unquenchable spirit”, who loved to sing and dance.

Sara Sharif – ‘a beautiful little girl’

Justice Cavanagh said that judges must be careful about using the word “torture” and that it should not be “overused”, adding: “But is it no exaggeration to describe the campaign of abuse against Sara as torture.”
He said that the treatment inflicted on a 10-year-old child was “nothing short of gruesome” and that the cruelty involved was “almost inconceivable”.

The white metal pole, a leg of a high chair, used by Urfan Sharish to beat his daughter Sara shortly before she died. Image Surrey Police

He went on to say that none of the defendants had shown a “shred of true remorse”, and that nothing he could do would “provide recompense for the loss of this young child’s life”.

Referencing the change in Sharif’s testimony during the trial, from blaming Batool for the abuse inflicted on Sara, to then admitting he had beaten her but hadn’t meant to kill her, Justice Cavanagh said that Sharif’s “stated remorse” had been “no more than a ploy” and that even after he had made admissions, he continued to “conceal the true extent of (his) cruelty towards Sara”.

Turning to Batool, Justice Cavanagh said: “You were prepared to sacrifice Sara because you did not want to lose your other children. Put bluntly, you did not care enough about Sara to save her.”

Justice Cavanagh said Malik should have recognised that what was being done to Sara was “dangerous and wrong and had to be stopped” and yet he had taken “absolutely no steps to protect Sara.”

Victim statement from mother

In her victim impact statement, which was read out to the court, Sara’s mother Olga Domin, paid tribute to her daughter, and said that she was “always smiling” and had “her own unique character”.

Ms Domin continued: “The only thing I had left to give to my daughter was to give her a beautiful Catholic funeral that she deserves.

“Sara is not far from home, and she is visited every day, I always light candles for her and there are flowers with her. 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. I hoped that when she grew up, we would meet but now it won’t happen, she left us too soon.”

“What has come out in court, I can’t understand what’s wrong with these people, how they allowed it? You are sadists, although even this word is not enough for you. I would say you are executioners.

“As a result of Sara’s death, I am under constant psychological supervision, and I am also taking strong sedatives. I hope the right sentences are given to these cowards.”

NSPCC Comment

Commenting on the sentencing, Maria Neophytou, acting CEO of the NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children), said: “With the sentencing of Sharif and Batool for Sara Sharif’s murder and Mailk for allowing her death, this shocking and heart-breaking court case has concluded. But it is vital that we do not allow the memory of Sara and what she was made to suffer to fade.

“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. Sara has now joined a lengthening list from recent years, which also includes Arthur Labinjo Hughes, Star Hobson and Alfie Phillips, where horrific abuse from a parent or carer has directly led to the death of a young child.

“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.”

Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review to be Conducted

Surrey County Council have already said that a safeguarding review of all professionals who had contact with the family, called a Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review (LCSPR), will proceed now the trial has been completed.

Led by an independent “author”, the LCSPR is a statutory process that will bring together partners including the police, health, social care and education among others to review the practice of all agencies involved with the family and identify any lessons to learn.

Rachael Wardell, executive director of children, families and lifelong learning at Surrey County Council.

Rachael Wardell, Executive Director for Children, Families and Lifelong Learning at Surrey County Council, said: “We are resolute in our commitment to protecting children, and we are determined to play a full and active part in the forthcoming review alongside partner agencies, to thoroughly understand the wider circumstances surrounding Sara’s tragic death.”

Background

An investigation was launched by the Surrey Police and Sussex Police Major Crime Team following the discovery of Sara’s body at her home address in Hammond Road, Horsell near Woking, on August 10 2023.

It emerged that Sara’s father, Urfan Sharif, his partner Benaish Batool and Urfan’s brother, Faisal Malik, had taken a flight to Pakistan the night before her body was found, along with five of Sara’s siblings, aged between 1-13 years at the time.

A post-mortem was carried out, which established that Sara had sustained extensive and significant injuries over a sustained period prior to her death.

A murder investigation was launched, which involved working with international agencies, including the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office, Interpol and the National Crime Agency, to locate Sharif, Batool and Malik in connection with Sara’s death.

Sharif, Batool and Malik returned to the UK on September 13 and were arrested and subsequently charged with Sara’s murder and causing or allowing the death of a child.

On December 11, following a ten-week trial, Sharif and Batool were found guilty of murder.

The other children, including twins with special needs, remain in Pakistan in the care of their grandfather.

See also: Sara Sharif Trial Verdicts – Father and Stepmother Guilty of Murder of Ten-year-old Daughter

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