How Sara Sharif was failed by authorities years before her death (2025)

Sara's father Urfan Sharif and stepmother Beinash Batool were found guilty of the 10-year-old’s murder

Authorities failed to identify Sara Sharif was at risk for years before her broken and battered body was discovered at her family home.

Her father Urfan Sharif had been in contact with both Surrey Social Services and police before he was charged with murdering the 10-year-old last summer.

Just five months before her death, Sara’s school made a referral to social services – but the case was closed within days.

At the Old Bailey on Wednesday, Sharif and Sara’s stepmother Beinash Batool were found guilty of her murder. Her uncle Faisal Malik was cleared of murder but convicted of causing or allowing the death of a child.

How Sara Sharif was failed by authorities years before her death (1)

What happens next after the Sara Sharif verdicts?

Now the trial has concluded, an independent safeguarding review will examine whether more could have been done to protect Sara.

Surrey Safeguarding Children Partnership (SSCP) is expected to look into the conduct of all bodies involved with the Sharif family, including the police and social care, along with health and educational authorities.

Rachael Wardell, the executive director responsible for children’s social services at Surrey County Council, said: “Sara’s death is incredibly distressing and we share in the profound horror at the terrible details that have emerged during the trial.”

Until the independent safeguarding review has concluded, a “complete picture cannot be understood or commented upon”, she added.

But leading safeguarding expert Simon Bailey said: “Quite clearly the system failed her because she tragically died at a very, very young age where all the indications are that it could have been averted.”

Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza has called for an “immediate shift” in how children like Sara are protected.

When did Sara Sharif come to the attention of authorities?

Sara was made the subject of a child protection plan at birth, as her father had been accused of attacking three women, including her biological mother, Olga Sharif (née Domin), as well as hitting and biting children.

She was allowed to live with Urfan until 2014, when she was briefly taken into care over reports of a bite mark.

Sara was then returned to Urfan in 2015, on the understanding that his then-wife moved out.

How Sara Sharif was failed by authorities years before her death (2)

He had claimed Mrs Sharif had bitten another child and “abused” Sara during their marriage. She then accused him of domestic abuse and child abuse, leading to Sara being sent back to live with her.

In the intervening years, Sharif had supervised contact with his daughter, then won custody again after Sara accused her mother of abuse in 2019.

Read Next

square BEN KENTISH

We have lost trust in Britain's justice system

Read More

Neither party was ever charged over their alleged abuse in the home, and Sharif’s pattern of behaviour went unchanged, the court was told.

He had been controlling towards two Polish ex-girlfriends, who alleged he had stopped them from leaving and taken their passports, jurors heard.

He had been arrested by police following allegations by 18-year-old Angelika, 31-year-old Anna and Mrs Sharif, but no further action was taken in each case.

Under cross-examination, Sharif had no answer to why a second child he had a past connection with could have ended up with iron burns or bites, just like Sara.

It was suggested he was the “common denominator” and could have directed others to inflict the brutal injuries as part of a regime of punishment.

The court heard Sharif had also controlled Batool, his subsequent partner, having taken advantage of her vulnerability as a victim of honour-based abuse.

Neighbours heard children’s screams

Within two years of getting Sara back, Batool was confiding in her sister that Sharif “beat the crap” out of his daughter. She said she wanted to report what was going on, but neither Batool nor anyone else in her family acted, jurors heard.

A former neighbour recalled children’s screams reaching “fever pitch” when she lived above the Sharif family’s former flat in West Byfleet, Surrey, between 2018 and 2020.

Rebecca Spencer told jurors Batool would lose her temper and she would hear smacks coming from the flat as well as doors rattling as if in an attempt to open them.

How Sara Sharif was failed by authorities years before her death (4)

She thought about reporting what she had heard to authorities but ultimately decided against it, jurors were told.

Chloe Redwin, who moved into the upstairs flat in November 2022, said she heard a smack and scream followed by “go to your room”.

When she commented on Sara’s hijab, Batool shut down the conversation, saying the girl wanted to “follow her religion”, even though none of the other females in the family wore a Muslim head covering.

To many others, the truth of what Sara was suffering behind closed doors remained hidden beneath a veneer of respectability.

Sara was always clean and well turned out, with Sharif working hard as a taxi driver and Batool keeping the family home immaculate.

However, teachers saw a different side to Batool when she was caught swearing at children at the school gates.

More red flags were raised when Sara turned up at school with bruises on her face in June 2022 and again in March 2023, despite attempts to cover them in a hijab.

Case referred to social services

Although Sara never confided in teachers about what was happening, a referral was made to social services after the second incident – only for that to be shut down within days.

The next month, she was taken out of school and the violence against her escalated in the final weeks of her life.

How Sara Sharif was failed by authorities years before her death (5)

Sharif admitted repeatedly beating her with a cricket bat, metal pole and mobile phone, throttling her and even hitting her in the stomach as she lay dying.

Prosecutors said it must have been obvious to all the adults in the house what was going on when Sara was punished for vomiting and soiling herself.

Signs of restraint with packaging tape, and evidence of the iron burns, suggested more than one person must have been directly involved.

Sharif and Malik’s teeth impressions ruled them out as the biter – leaving Batool, who had refused to give hers.

Sara Sharif’s family ‘only ever sought to preserve their own interest’

The family members who were found guilty over Sara Sharif’s death “only ever sought to preserve their own interest”, police have said.

Urfan Sharif, 42, and stepmother Beinash Batool, 30, were found guilty of the 10-year-old’s murder on Wednesday by a jury at the Old Bailey.

Her uncle, Faisal Malik, 29, was cleared of murder but convicted of causing or allowing her death.

Giving evidence at his trial, Sharif initially blamed Batool for the violence, claiming he was working when his daughter was abused. Batool and university student Malik refused to give evidence but denied involvement.

It was claimed on Batool’s behalf that Sharif was the “sole perpetrator” of the violence against his “spirited, bold and fierce” daughter.

Speaking outside the court after the verdicts, the senior investigating officer on the case paid tribute to Sara’s “bravery and resilience” and said the trio “have shown no remorse for their truly dreadful behaviour”.

Detective Chief Inspector Craig Emmerson said: “Sara was a bright and lively little girl who loved singing and dancing.

“Sara’s young life was brought to an end as a result of the brutal abuse and unspeakable violence inflicted on her by Sharif and Batool, which Malik did nothing to prevent.

“All three defendants have only ever sought to preserve their own interests throughout this investigation and have shown no remorse for their truly dreadful behaviour.”

The detective said the murder was “one of the most difficult and distressing” cases Surrey Police have dealt with.

“The murder of a child is absolutely shocking but the abuse Sara suffered during her short life has made this case particularly disturbing,” he added.

Speaking outside the court, Judith Reed, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said that although justice had been secured for Sara, the “ultimate tragedy is that she was killed by the very adults who should have loved and protected her.

“At the heart of this trial was Sara Sharif – a happy, outgoing and lively 10-year-old girl who was cruelly abused and murdered by the two people closest to her.

“None of the defendants did anything to stop or report the abuse that led to Sara’s tragic death.”

With additional reporting from PA Media

How Sara Sharif was failed by authorities years before her death (2025)

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Fredrick Kertzmann

Last Updated:

Views: 6179

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (66 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Fredrick Kertzmann

Birthday: 2000-04-29

Address: Apt. 203 613 Huels Gateway, Ralphtown, LA 40204

Phone: +2135150832870

Job: Regional Design Producer

Hobby: Nordic skating, Lacemaking, Mountain biking, Rowing, Gardening, Water sports, role-playing games

Introduction: My name is Fredrick Kertzmann, I am a gleaming, encouraging, inexpensive, thankful, tender, quaint, precious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.