London: Urfan Sharif, the father of 10-year-old Sara Sharif, denied any responsibility for her death as he testified at his murder trial in London’s Old Bailey court on Tuesday. Sara was found dead in her Woking home in August 2023, after what prosecutors allege was a prolonged period of “serious and repeated violence.”
Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones had previously informed the court that Sara suffered numerous injuries, including burns and bite marks, suggesting severe abuse. Sharif, 42, along with his wife and Sara’s stepmother, Beinash Batool, 30, and Sara’s uncle, Faisal Malik, 29, face charges of murder, as well as charges of causing or allowing the death of a child. All three defendants deny the charges, each attributing blame to the others.
Sharif Denies Murder, Admits to Disciplining Sara
Taking the stand, Sharif became visibly emotional, describing his daughter as “beautiful, an angel,” noting her favorite color was pink. When questioned by his lawyer, Naeem Mian, Sharif denied being responsible for Sara’s death. However, he admitted to slapping Sara “on a few occasions” to discipline her but denied engaging in regular or severe beatings. Mian suggested that Sharif had been wrongfully depicted as a “villain” rather than Batool, implying she played a more significant role.
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Prosecutors shared that Sharif allegedly told police, “It wasn’t my intention to kill her, but I beat her up too much.” Meanwhile, Batool’s defense argues that Sharif was a “violent disciplinarian,” asserting that she lived in fear of him. This claim positions Batool as the victim of Sharif’s actions, further complicating the case.
The trial continues as the jury examines the conflicting testimonies, with each defendant distancing themselves from responsibility for Sara’s tragic death.
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