Disturbing Footage Presented in Court

A video featuring ten-year-old Sara Sharif dancing in her family home has been shown to jurors, just days before her tragic death. The footage is believed to have been recorded on August 6, 2023, only four days before Sara’s body was discovered at their residence in Woking, Surrey.

Sara’s father, Urfan Sharif (42), stepmother Beinash Batool (30), and uncle Faisal Malik (29) have pleaded not guilty to charges of murder. The jury previously heard harrowing details of Sara’s life, including that she had suffered from severe abuse over a span of more than two years.

“Warning: This article features distressing details."

Autopsy Findings and Cross-Examination

A post-mortem examination revealed that Sara had suffered numerous injuries, which included “probable human bite marks," an iron burn, and scalding from hot water prior to her death on August 8, 2023. During the cross-examination, Caroline Carberry KC, representing Ms. Batool, questioned pathologist Dr. Nathaniel Cary regarding Sara’s condition at the time the video was filmed.

Dr. Cary confirmed that:

“She is conscious. She’s moving, and she’s moving in a coordinated manner.”

He emphasized that Sara appeared to be “coordinated, alert and smiling” at the camera during the video and added that she was “moving remarkably well” despite her skeletal injuries.

Evidence and Allegations

The prosecution presented several disturbing pieces of evidence found near the family’s outhouse, including a bloodstained cricket bat, a rolling pin containing Sara’s DNA, a metal pole, a belt, and rope. Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones KC noted that Mr. Sharif, Ms. Batool, and Mr. Malik traveled to Islamabad, Pakistan, with other family members on August 9, 2023, the day before Sara’s body was discovered.

Prosecutors alleged that Mr. Sharif called police from Pakistan to admit he killed Sara approximately an hour after landing in Islamabad. He contended that Ms. Batool was responsible for her death and claimed his confession was made to protect his wife.

The three defendants are also charged with causing or allowing the death of a child but maintain their innocence regarding all allegations against them.