Sara Sharif’s father Urfan Sharif, his wife Beinash Batool, and his brother Faisal Malik appeared in court via video link. They are accused of the murder of Sara Sharif, whose body was discovered in her Woking, Surrey home in August of the previous year. The trial is scheduled to commence on October 7, with the jury set to be presented with the case on October 14.
The suspects, who had traveled to Islamabad, Pakistan, with Sara’s five siblings on August 9, 2023, just before her body was found, returned to the UK on September 13. They were arrested upon their return and charged two days later with causing or allowing the death of a child.
According to a previous court hearing, the police discovered Sara’s body following a call from Pakistan at 2:47 a.m. on August 10. The suspects, who lived with Sara before her death, have denied all charges and pleaded not guilty.
A post-mortem examination revealed Sara had sustained “multiple and extensive injuries” prior to her death, though the exact cause of death remains undetermined, as stated in the inquest.
The trial, overseen by High Court Judge Justice Cavanagh, is expected to last up to seven weeks, as reported by the BBC.
