FAISAL MALIK AND LONDON OFFENDER SENTENCED TO 16 YEARS IN PRISON FOR CHILD'S MURDER

On 17 December 2024, at The Central Criminal Court in London, the father and stepmother of 10-year-old Sara Sharif were sentenced to life imprisonment after being found guilty of her murder. Sara’s father, Urfan Sharif, 42, received a minimum term of 40 years, while her stepmother, Beinash Batool, 30, was sentenced to serve at least 33 years. Their nephew, Faisal Malik, 29, was sentenced to 16 years’ imprisonment for causing or allowing Sara’s death.

The three defendants were convicted the previous Wednesday, 11 December, following a 10-week trial. During the sentencing, Justice John Cavanagh described Sara as a “beautiful little girl” who was “full of personality,” noting she was a “very courageous little girl” with an “unquenchable spirit,” and that she loved singing and dancing.

Justice Cavanagh cautioned against overusing the word “torture,” but stated, “Is it no exaggeration to describe the campaign of abuse against Sara as torture.” He described the injuries inflicted on her as “nothing short of gruesome,” emphasizing the cruelty involved was “almost inconceivable.” He further remarked that none of the defendants had shown genuine remorse and that no amount of punishment could compensate for her loss.

Reflecting on Sharif’s changing testimony, Justice Cavanagh said, “His ‘stated remorse’ was no more than a ploy,” noting that even after admitting to beating Sara, Sharif insisted he did not mean to kill her and continued to hide the full extent of his cruelty. Addressing Batool, he said, “You were prepared to sacrifice Sara because you did not want to lose your other children. Put bluntly, you did not care enough about Sara to save her.”

He also condemned Malik, stating he should have recognized that harming Sara was “dangerous and wrong,” yet he took “absolutely no steps” to protect her.

In a victim impact statement read at the court, Sara’s mother, Olga Domin, paid tribute to her daughter, describing her as “always smiling” and “full of her own unique character.” Ms. Domin expressed her sorrow, saying, “The only thing I had left to give to my daughter was a beautiful Catholic funeral. Sara is not far from home, and she is visited every day. I light candles and leave flowers for her. She is now an angel who looks down on us from heaven, no longer experiencing violence.” She added, “To this day, I can't understand how someone can be such a sadist to a child. I hoped that when she grew up, we would meet, but now it won't happen; she left us too soon.”

Sara’s body was discovered at the family home in Hammond Road, Woking, in the early hours of 10 August 2023, after her father called police to confess that he had killed her and left her at their residence. A handwritten note was found beside her body, in which Sharif admitted responsibility.

The call was made after Sharif, Batool, and Malik departed the UK to fly to Pakistan with five of Sara’s siblings, aged between 1 and 13, on 8 August 2023—the day Sara is believed to have died. During an eight-and-a-half-minute call, Sharif told police that he had “panicked and left home,” admitting he had “beaten her up too much” but insisted it was not his intention to kill her. He refused to reveal his current whereabouts and did not mention the family’s flight to Islamabad the night before her body was found.

Subsequently, it was revealed that Batool had purchased the one-way tickets for the family on 8 August 2023. The post-mortem examination indicated Sara’s death resulted from complications due to multiple injuries and neglect, revealing approximately 100 internal and external injuries, including traumatic brain injury, broken bones, extensive bruising, and scarring. Evidence of burns, including one inflicted with a domestic iron on her buttocks, and human bite marks were also present.

Many injuries were inflicted using objects such as a cricket bat, a vacuum, and a metal pole. There was evidence that Sara had been restrained and her head covered with homemade hoods fashioned from parcel tape and plastic bags during some of these assaults.

An investigation led by Surrey Police and Sussex Police’s Major Crime Team involved collaboration with Interpol, the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office, the National Crime Agency, the Crown Prosecution Service, and Pakistani authorities to locate Sharif, Batool, and Malik. They returned to the UK on 13 September 2023, and were arrested upon arrival at Gatwick Airport, subsequently charged with Sara’s murder and causing or allowing her death two days later.

On 14 December 2023, at The Central Criminal Court, all three pleaded not guilty to the charges. Sharif, the only defendant to testify, initially blamed Batool but later claimed responsibility for Sara’s death to protect his wife and brother, asserting he had beaten her but did not intend to kill her. Throughout his testimony, he maintained he was not responsible for the bite marks or burns.

Detective Chief Superintendent Mark Chapman from Surrey and Sussex’s Major Crime Team stated, “The father and stepmother of Sara Sharif have today been sentenced to life imprisonment after being found guilty of her murder. Her uncle was sentenced to 16 years for causing or allowing her death.” He described Sara as “a bright and lively little girl who loved singing and dancing,” and extended deepest condolences to her mother, her siblings, and everyone who knew her.

He added, “Sara’s spirit, bravery, and resilience in the face of abuse have shone through. Her death, caused by brutal acts inflicted by her father and stepmother, which her uncle did nothing to prevent, has shocked the country and the world. Surrey Police have worked tirelessly from the moment her body was found. I thank those who came forward, provided evidence, and the jury for their careful consideration, especially given the disturbing nature of the case.”

He also thanked the National Crime Agency, the Crown Prosecution Service, the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, Interpol, and Pakistani authorities. “Now that the criminal case has wrapped up, we will work with partners on a Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review to examine agency involvement and identify any lessons,” he said. “The murder of a child is shocking, but the injuries and cruelty Sara endured make this case particularly disturbing.”

Rick Jones, Deputy Director of International at the National Crime Agency, commented, “Sara Sharif’s life was taken in horrific circumstances at the hands of those meant to protect her. Our thoughts are with her mother and loved ones. The dedicated work of NCA officers and international partners—including Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency—was crucial in securing justice. We thank Pakistani authorities for their vital assistance, which led to Sara’s killers being imprisoned for the foreseeable future.”