The father and stepmother of a 10-year-old girl, who was severely abused and found dead in their home in England, have been sentenced to life in prison for her murder. Urfan Sharif, 42, and Beinash Batool, 30, were convicted of murder after prosecutors described their actions as a “campaign of abuse” leading to the tragic death of the young girl, reported by CBS News.
The girl’s uncle, Faisal Malik, 29, was found guilty of causing or allowing her death and was sentenced to 16 years in prison. The horrific details of the abuse, which included more than 70 fresh injuries and numerous older ones, were revealed during the trial. The injuries included bruises, burns, fractures, and bite marks.
After the girl’s death, the three defendants fled to Pakistan. Urfan Sharif later contacted U.K. police from Pakistan, admitting to the abuse, saying he had “legally punished her” and that she had died because he “beat her up too much.” He added that he did not intend to kill her.
On August 10, 2023, police discovered the body of the 10-year-old girl, Sara, under a blanket in a bunk bed at the family’s home in London. The three defendants returned to Britain over a month later and were arrested on suspicion of murder.
The trial at the Central Criminal Court exposed the severity of the abuse, raising questions about failures within social services and authorities to intervene and protect the child. Justice John Cavanagh described Sara’s death as the result of “years of neglect, frequent assaults and what can only be described as the torture of this small child.” He added that the “degree of cruelty is almost inconceivable,” and stated that none of the defendants showed any remorse.
The case has sparked outrage, with politicians and officials calling for a thorough review of the child protection system to prevent such tragedies in the future. Rachel de Souza, England’s children’s commissioner, said in a statement, “Her death is a heartbreaking reminder of the profound weaknesses in our child protection system that, as a country, we have failed time and time again to correct.” She further expressed frustration, saying, “We have been here before — and each time we have said ‘never again.’”
Sara’s death highlights the urgent need for systemic reform to safeguard vulnerable children and prevent further tragedies.