Two years of torment culminating in a tragic death have left jurors grappling with disturbing details of the suffering endured by 10-year-old Sara Sharif. The accusations against her father, stepmother and uncle are grave, with the Old Bailey court in the UK uncovering harrowing accounts of abuse, that have shocked both Britain and Pakistan. Sara's father Urfan Sharif, stepmother Beinash Batool, and uncle Faisal Malik face charges of murder and causing or allowing the death of a child. Prosecutors have revealed the extent of Sara's mistreatment, detailing how she concealed her injuries with a hijab. As the trial proceeds, the grim realities of her suffering come to light, painting a chilling picture of the abuse that led to her untimely demise. Here’s what you need to know about the case: The 'abuse' According to the Old Bailey court, Sara suffered over two years of physical abuse. She was reportedly hooded, beaten, and burned, with signs of injuries hidden by her hijab. A post-mortem examination revealed dozens of injuries, including probable human bite marks, an iron burn, scalding from hot water, and 11 fractures to her spine. Additionally, Sara had sustained further fractures to her right collarbone, both shoulder blades, both arms, both hands, three fingers, the bones near the wrist in each hand, and two ribs. The abuse was so severe that Sara had to wear a hijab to hide her injuries at school. Neighbours also reported hearing distressing sounds, including screams and smacking noises, from the family’s home. Discovery of Sara’s body Sara’s body was found in her home in Woking, Surrey on August 10, 2023, covered by a white sheet and lying in a bunk bed. The court had previously heard that Sara Sharif's father, stepmother and uncle travelled to Islamabad, Pakistan, with Sara's five siblings on August 9, 2023, just a day before her body was discovered. Prosecutors revealed that shortly after arriving in Pakistan, Sharif called the police and confessed to "beating her up too much for being naughty". However, jurors were later told that Sharif claims his confession, both over the phone and in a written note, was false and made to protect his wife, Batool, whom he alleges was responsible for Sara’s death. The defendants' defence Urfan (42), Beinash Batool (30), and Faisal Malik (29), have all denied murdering her. Prosecutors say homemade hoods, made from plastic bags bound with parcel tape, were found at the house, indicating the horrific nature of the abuse. Text messages from Batool to her sisters detailed Sara's injuries, admitting that she was aware of the violence inflicted by her husband but failed to intervene. The case continues The trial continues at the Old Bailey court, where more evidence is expected to be heard in the coming weeks. During the trial, pathologist Dr Nathaniel Cary provided additional disturbing details from Sara’s post-mortem. He revealed that Sara had a "gaping" puncture wound on her head, along with evidence of being struck by an elongated object below her belly button. Dr Cary also confirmed that Sara’s extensive bruising pointed to blunt force trauma, while her body bore numerous scars from previous injuries, suggesting long-term abuse. These findings add to the growing picture of the severe mistreatment Sara endured before her tragic death. He informed the court that the total count of distinguishable injuries was 71, although many were clustered together, suggesting the actual number was likely higher. These injuries included significant internal damage, such as bleeding on her brain, multiple bruises on her lungs, and various skeletal injuries, jurors were told. Dr Cary presented his findings from a post-mortem examination of Sara's body, which he conducted on August 15, 2023, taking approximately three hours. Sara measured 1.37 metres in height and weighed 27 kilograms, both of which were within the average range for a child of her age, but towards the lower end, the court heard. Additionally, the court was informed that no natural diseases or drugs had contributed to Sara's death. (With Inputs from BBC & Metro)
