A UK court has sentenced the father and stepmother of 10-year-old British-Pakistani girl Sara Sharif to life imprisonment for her brutal murder, marking a tragic conclusion to a case that deeply shocked the nation.
Justice John Cavanagh announced the sentences on Tuesday, stating that Urfan Sharif, Sara’s father, will serve a minimum of 40 years. Her stepmother, Beinash Batool, was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 33 years. Sara’s uncle, Faisal Malik, received a 16-year sentence for causing or allowing her death.
Sara Sharif was found dead in her bed in August 2023, with over 100 injuries, including 25 broken bones, bite marks, and burns. The post-mortem revealed she had suffered prolonged abuse before her death.
During the trial, Urfan Sharif admitted to beating Sara with a cricket bat and throttling her, which broke her neck’s hyoid bone. Justice Cavanagh condemned Sharif’s “campaign of violence,” noting the father’s grim satisfaction in the repeated abuse.
Beinash Batool was found equally culpable for her role in Sara’s suffering and the subsequent cover-up. The judge criticized Batool for failing to protect Sara and instead being complicit in her abuse. He cited aggravating factors, including Sara’s young age, her vulnerability, the use of restraints, and Batool’s eventual flight to Pakistan without seeking medical help for the child.
Justice Cavanagh described Sara as a “courageous little girl” who loved singing and dancing, referencing a poignant video of her smiling despite impaired mobility. The court also heard touching details, including a birthday card Sara wrote for her father and a note apologizing for speaking back.
In his remarks, the judge emphasized that no sentence could ever reflect the true value of Sara’s life, a life marred by unrelenting abuse and neglect.
