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Murder of Sara Sharif

SOLVED2023Horsell, Woking, Surrey, England3 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026

Documents violence · crimes against children · domestic violence · torture — written to inform, not to shock.

Illustrative

Sara Sharif, a 10-year-old girl, died on 8 August 2023 at her family's home on Hammond Road in Horsell, Woking, Surrey. Her body was discovered two days later, on 10 August 2023, shortly after her father, Urfan Sharif, called 999 from Pakistan and admitted "I've killed my daughter." An autopsy found that Sara had suffered more than 70 injuries, including 11 spinal fractures, a traumatic brain injury, burns consistent with a domestic iron, scald injuries, restraint marks, bite marks, and injuries consistent with manual strangulation. The cause of death was recorded as complications arising from multiple injuries and neglect.

Sara had been the subject of child protection concerns since birth in January 2013 due to risk from both parents, and spent time in foster care before being returned to her parents under supervision. Her parents, Urfan Sharif and Olga Domin, separated in 2015, and Urfan later formed a relationship with Beinash Batool. In 2019, Urfan gained custody of Sara and her brother, and the family lived together with Beinash and Urfan's brother, Faisal Malik, in Woking. Neighbours, social workers, and school staff documented signs of abuse over an extended period, including bruising, flinching around her father, and Sara wearing a hijab to school reportedly to conceal injuries. In April 2023, Sara was withdrawn from primary school under the stated intention of home schooling.

On 9 August 2023, the day after Sara's death, Urfan, Beinash, and Faisal Malik flew from the UK to Islamabad, Pakistan. Urfan's 999 call from Pakistan preceded the discovery of Sara's body by police. He left a note near her body apologising and requesting an Islamic burial. Surrey Police launched an international manhunt, and on 12 September 2023 Pakistani police recovered five of Urfan's living children from a relative's house in Jhelum. The three adults voluntarily flew back to the UK and were arrested at Gatwick Airport on 13 September 2023 on suspicion of murder.

Urfan Sharif, Beinash Batool, and Faisal Malik were charged with murder and with causing or allowing the death of a child. All three pleaded not guilty at a December 2023 hearing. Trial began at the Old Bailey on 1 October 2024, with the jury sworn in on 8 October 2024. During cross-examination in November 2024, Urfan accepted "full responsibility" for causing Sara's death and described himself as the "worst parent on the planet," while blaming Beinash. On 11 December 2024, Urfan and Beinash were found guilty of murder; Malik was found not guilty of murder but guilty of causing or allowing Sara's death. On 17 December 2024, Urfan was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 40 years, Beinash to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 33 years, and Malik to 16 years.

On 1 January 2025, Urfan was attacked by two inmates at HM Prison Belmarsh, sustaining non-life-threatening injuries to his face and neck; he was subsequently transferred to HM Prison Frankland. In January 2025, the Solicitor General's Office referred Urfan's sentence to the Court of Appeal seeking a whole life order, while all three defendants separately sought reduced sentences. On 13 March 2025, the Court of Appeal upheld all three original sentences and rejected the Solicitor General's application. The case prompted public commentary from Prime Minister Keir Starmer and led to proposed legislative changes regarding home education oversight and communication between social services and schools.

Key facts

Victims
Sara Sharif
Date
2023
Location
Horsell, Woking, Surrey, England
Case status
solved

Case timeline

  1. 2013-01-11

    Sara Sharif is born in Slough, Berkshire, and placed under a child protection plan at birth.

  2. 2019

    Urfan Sharif is granted custody of Sara and her brother; the children move to Horsell, Woking, with Urfan, Beinash Batool, and Faisal Malik.

  3. 2023-04

    Sara is withdrawn from primary school under the stated intention of home schooling.

  4. 2023-08-08

    Sara Sharif dies at the family home on Hammond Road, Horsell, Woking.

  5. 2023-08-09

    Urfan Sharif, Beinash Batool, and Faisal Malik fly from the UK to Islamabad, Pakistan.

  6. 2023-08-10

    Urfan makes a 999 call from Pakistan admitting he killed Sara; her body is discovered by police in Woking.

  7. 2023-08-15

    A post-mortem examination finds Sara suffered numerous severe injuries over an extended period.

  8. 2023-09-12

    Pakistani police raid a relative's house in Jhelum and recover Urfan's five living children.

  9. 2023-09-13

    Urfan, Beinash, and Faisal are arrested at Gatwick Airport on suspicion of murder after voluntarily returning to the UK.

  10. 2023-09-14

    All three are charged with murder and causing or allowing the death of a child.

  11. 2023-12

    All three defendants plead not guilty at a plea hearing.

  12. 2024-10-01

    Trial begins at the Old Bailey.

  13. 2024-10-08

    Jury is sworn in for the trial.

  14. 2024-11

    Urfan accepts 'full responsibility' for causing Sara's death during cross-examination.

  15. 2024-12-11

    Urfan and Beinash are found guilty of murder; Faisal Malik is found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child.

  16. 2024-12-17

    Urfan is sentenced to life with a minimum of 40 years; Beinash to life with a minimum of 33 years; Malik to 16 years.

  17. 2025-01-01

    Urfan is attacked by two inmates at HM Prison Belmarsh, sustaining facial and neck injuries.

  18. 2025-01

    The Solicitor General's Office refers Urfan's sentence to the Court of Appeal seeking a whole life order; all three defendants separately seek reduced sentences.

  19. 2025-03-13

    The Court of Appeal upholds all three original sentences and rejects the Solicitor General's application.

Best coverage

No approved coverage links are attached yet.

People

  • Faisal Malik

    CONVICTED

    Urfan Sharif's brother; found not guilty of murder but convicted of causing or allowing the death of a child, sentenced to 16 years.

    citation on file

  • Sara Sharif

    VICTIM

    10-year-old girl who died on 8 August 2023 as a result of prolonged abuse and multiple injuries inflicted by her father and stepmother.

    citation on file

  • Beinash Batool

    CONVICTED

    Sara's stepmother; convicted of murder on 11 December 2024 and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 33 years.

    citation on file

  • Urfan Sharif

    CONVICTED

    Sara's father; convicted of murder on 11 December 2024 and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 40 years.

    citation on file

Places

Horsell, Woking, Surrey, England

51.3193, -0.5623

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
Sara Sharif, aged 10, was murdered by her father Urfan Sharif and stepmother Beinash Batool in Woking, Surrey, in August 2023 after prolonged, severe abuse. Both were convicted of murder and jailed for life; Urfan's brother Faisal Malik was convicted of causing or allowing her death.
Where did the murder happen?
Horsell, Woking, Surrey, England.
Who was convicted?
Faisal Malik (Urfan Sharif's brother; found not guilty of murder but convicted of causing or allowing the death of a child, sentenced to 16 years.), Beinash Batool (Sara's stepmother; convicted of murder on 11 December 2024 and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 33 years.), and Urfan Sharif (Sara's father; convicted of murder on 11 December 2024 and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 40 years.).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: solved. Last verified July 2026.

Sources

  1. Murder of Sara Sharifwikipedia · Wikipedia · 2026-07-07
  2. Contemporaneous coverage — BBC Newsnews · BBC News · 2026-07-07
  3. Contemporaneous coverage — The Independentnews · The Independent · 2026-07-07

Last verified JUL 2026

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