The father of a 10-year-old girl found dead in Britain has admitted killing his daughter after fleeing to Pakistan and calling British police, prosecutors said on Monday.
Urfan Sharif, 42, is on trial at London's Central Criminal Court on charges that he, his partner Baynash Batool and his brother Faisal Malik murdered Sara Sharif. Associated Press.
Prosecutor William Emlyn Jones said all three defendants took part in a “campaign of abuse” against Sarah in the weeks leading up to her death.
Police found Sarah's body under a blanket on a bunk bed at her home in Woking, south-west London, on August 10, 2023, with dozens of injuries, including extensive bruising, burns and broken bones. According to the autopsy, the child died of unnatural causes.
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This court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook shows Sarah Sharif's father Urfan Sharif (right) and uncle Faisal Sharif via video link from Belmarsh Prison in London's Old Bailey on December 14, 2023. It depicts Malik appearing with three members of his family. He has pleaded not guilty to her murder. (via Elizabeth Cook/PA)
Mr Jones said law enforcement was unable to locate Sarah after her father called British police from Pakistan and told them: “I killed my daughter. I punished her legally and she died.” He said he learned of his death.
He also told the telephone operator that he did not intend to kill her, but that he “beat her too hard,” prosecutors said.
Mr. Urfan Sharif, Mr. Batool and Mr. Malik fled the UK on August 9 for Pakistan's capital, Islamabad.
Following a search, Pakistani police located the three suspects, who were then transported to the UK and arrested upon landing at London's Gatwick Airport. They were held in jail while awaiting trial.
A view of Coroner's Court in Woking, Surrey, following the death of 10-year-old Sarah Sharif, whose body was found at a property in Hammond Road, Woking, Surrey, on August 10. (Getty Images)
Mr Jones said all three suspects lived in the same house as Sarah and it was “inconceivable” that only one of the suspects was responsible for Sarah's death.
Prosecutors said each suspect tried to place the blame for the killing on the other. Urfan Sharif had claimed that Sara's stepmother, Batur, was responsible for the girl's death and had given a false confession to protect Sara.
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Atiq Malik, the Sharif family's lawyer, outside Guildford Magistrates' Court. Sara Sharif's father Urfan Sharif, who will appear in court on Friday, is one of three people charged with the 10-year-old's murder. (Getty Images)
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A recording of a phone call made on the night of August 8, 2023, when Sarah was believed to have been murdered, was played to the jury. In the recording, Batur can be heard asking about booking tickets to Islamabad for four adults and four children.
The three suspects deny killing Sarah or causing or allowing the girl's death.
The trial is scheduled to continue until December.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
