Unthinkable cruelty: The murder of Sara Sharif
The murder of 10-year-old Sara Sharif is a deeply harrowing reminder of the unthinkable cruelty some children often endure in silence for years. Betrayed by those who should have loved and protected her, Sara’s story is one of unimaginable abuse and heartbreak.
While her life was tragically cut short, sharing her story is vital to raise awareness and safeguard other vulnerable children from such horrific fates.
The life of Sara Sharif
Sara dealt with a lot of instability in her short life. She was pulled between her parents, involved in custody battles, and torn between two cultures.
Sara was born in January 2013 in Slough, Berkshire. She was born to Polish mother Olga and Pakistani father Urfan Sharif, who had moved to the UK in 2001. Olga and Sharif were married in 2009 and had their first child – a son – the same year.
By 2015, Sharif and Olga’s marriage had broken down – the pair separated and later divorced. Sara and her brother lived with their mother Olga for four years. However, a legal battle in 2019 resulted in Sharif gaining custody of Sara. Her life uprooted, she moved to live with him in Horsell, Woking.
Sara’s mother described her as a unique child with a beautiful voice and smile who was always laughing. Her teachers also spoke of a chatty and bubbly young girl who loved to sing and dance for others.
However, Sara began to change and become more withdrawn after she began to live with her father. Olga was initially in contact with Sara when supervised. However, contact ceased after Sharif began a new relationship with Beinash Batool. The pair refused to let Olga see Sara.
Sara was also taken out of school and homeschooled by her stepmother. This began in April 2023, only four months before her body was found.
The abuse of Sara Sharif
For the next four years, Sara was violently beaten and abused by her father and stepmother. Sara suffered a prolonged campaign of horrific abuse. She was regularly beaten with a rolling pin and cricket bat, had plastic bags tied around her head and was bitten and burned.
Sara was also forced into servitude for her dad and stepmother, often made to do all the housework and laundry of the family.
Her stepmother claimed that Sharif would hit Sara to discipline her for being too rebellious and naughty. However, during the trial, it was noted that Batool would encourage Sharif to attack Sara by falsely accusing her of misbehaving.
She even suggested there was an evil presence – a 'jinn', a demonic creature in Islamic culture – within Sara.
In her last weeks of life, Sara would often vomit and soil herself due to incontinence. This only caused Sharif to beat her more. He attempted to discipline Sara by tying her with masking tape, forcing her into a nappy and covering her head with a homemade hood.
Sara’s death
On 10th August 2023, Sara’s body was found in her home in Horsell. She was found in her bunk bed, laying beneath her pink blanket. Her body had more than 70 injuries, including a traumatic brain injury.
Sara’s family were nowhere to be found, having fled for Pakistan on 9th August. It was Sharif himself who informed authorities of Sara’s death. He called 999, admitting to killing Sara unintentionally due to beating her too much.
‘It wasn’t my intention to kill her, but I beat her up too much…I’m a cruel father’.
The call resulted in authorities launching an international search to locate the suspects. Police in Pakistan were involved in the search, and raided the house of Sharif's father to recover his five other children.
The following day, three suspects were arrested at Gatwick Airport after disembarking a flight from Pakistan.
The trial
Following their arrest, Sara’s father, stepmother and uncle, Faisal Malik, were charged with murder and causing the death of a child in September 2023.
Their high-profile trial began in October of the following year, during which Sharif told jurors he accepted 'full responsibility' for causing Sara’s death.
In December 2024, Sharif and Beinash Batool were found guilty of murdering Sara. Her uncle was found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child, but not of murder.
At their sentencing, Sharif and Batool were jailed for life. Sharif was sentenced to a minimum of 40 years, with Batool receiving a minimum of 33 years. Sara’s uncle was sentenced to 16 years’ imprisonment.
During his sentencing remarks, Mr Justice Cavanagh told the court ‘the degree of cruelty is almost inconceivable’.
Remembering Sara
Sara was a bright spark of a child, full of potential. She was outspoken and confident, something that would have made her a brilliant performer if she’d had the chance.
But it was this outgoing nature that ultimately made her a target for her family. Sara suffered cruel and sustained abuse behind closed doors at the hands of people she thought she could trust.
Sara’s short life was a beacon of joy, but the shocking nature of her death will not be forgotten. The case serves as a stark reminder of the important work needed to strengthen child protection services and irradicate the horrors of child abuse.
