LONDON: Sara Sharif’s father, Irfan Sharif, and stepmother, Beinash Batool, have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal abuse and murder of the 10-year-old girl.
The court described the incident as horrific “torture” and “despicable” abuse that caused Sara “unimaginable pain, misery, and anxiety.”
Sara, who lived with her family in Woking, Surrey, endured repeated beatings, burns, bites, and restraints over years of abuse. The violence culminated in her death last August, after which her father and stepmother fled to Pakistan with her five siblings.
On Tuesday, the Old Bailey handed Irfan Sharif a minimum sentence of 40 years and Beinash Batool 33 years in prison for Sara’s murder. Her uncle, Faisal Malik, 29, was convicted of causing or allowing Sara’s death and received a 16-year prison sentence.
“Years of neglect and torture”
Mr. Justice Cavanagh, during the televised sentencing, described Sara’s death “was the culmination of years of neglect, frequent assaults and what can only be described as torture”. The judge noted that the “despicable treatment” happened in “plain sight and in front of the rest of the family”.
Addressing Sharif, the judge remarked:
“You treated her in such a way because you considered it your right to impose harsh discipline on her. Sara was a brave, fiesty, and spirited child. She was not submissive as you wanted her to be. She stood up to you. I have no doubt that your ego and sense of self-importance was boosted by the power you wielded over her and the rest of the family.”
The court heard that Batool, rather than intervening, was prepared to “sacrifice” her stepdaughter. “Put bluntly, you did not care about Sara enough to save her.”
Mr. Justice Cavanagh dismissed as “preposterous” the claim that Faisal Malik was too occupied with his phone and earbuds to notice the ongoing abuse. He highlighted how Sara’s case “starkly demonstrated” the risks faced by vulnerable children in home-schooling environments and raised concerns about missed opportunities to prevent the tragedy.
Read More: Father & Stepmother Found Guilty in Murder of 10-Year-Old Sarah Sharif
Sara’s mother, Olga Sharif, participated in the court proceedings via video link and shared her grief, describing Sara as “always smiling” and possessing her “own unique character.” In a victim impact statement, she expressed, “She is now an angel who looks down on us from heaven, she is no longer experiencing violence. To this day, I can’t understand how someone can be such a sadist to a child.”
Addressing the defendants, Olga called them “sadists,” adding, “Even this word is not enough for you. I would say you are executioners.”
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