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  • February 11, 2025
Britain convicts father and stepmother of murdering girl (10) in ‘abuse campaign’

Britain convicts father and stepmother of murdering girl (10) in ‘abuse campaign’

The father and stepmother of a 10-year-old girl found dead in her home in England were found guilty of her murder on Wednesday.

Urfan Sharif, 42, was charged with the murder of Sara Sharif along with his partner, 30-year-old Beinash Batool. His brother, 29-year-old Faisal Malik, was found guilty of causing or allowing the girl’s death.

Police found Sara’s body under a blanket in a bunk bed at her home in Woking, southwest London, on August 10, 2023, with dozens of injuries including extensive bruising, burns and fractures. A post-mortem examination revealed that she died of an unnatural death.

Prosecutors have said all three defendants played a role in a “campaign of abuse” against Sara in the weeks leading up to her death. The three fled Britain to Islamabad, the Pakistani capital, on August 9, the day after Sara reportedly died.

(From left) Urfan Sharif, Beinash Batool and Faisal Malik, father, stepmother and uncle of Sara Sharif respectively, in custody. Photo: AFP/Surrey police
(From left) Urfan Sharif, Beinash Batool and Faisal Malik, father, stepmother and uncle of Sara Sharif respectively, in custody. Photo: AFP/Surrey police

The discovery was made after Urfan Sharif called British police from Pakistan to say he had “legally punished her and she died,” prosecutors said. He told the operator he didn’t mean to kill her, but that he had “beat her up too much,” they said.