A trial date has been confirmed for the father, stepmother, and uncle of 10-year-old Sara Sharif, who are charged with her murder in the United Kingdom. Urfan Sharif, 42, his wife Beinash Batool, 29, and Urfan’s brother, Faisal Malik, 28, appeared in court via video link.
The defendants, accused of killing Sara after her body was discovered at their home in Woking, Surrey, last August, will face trial starting October 7, with the jury set to hear the case on October 14.
The trio had traveled to Islamabad, Pakistan, with Sara’s five siblings on August 9, 2023, just a day before her body was found. Police discovered Sara’s body following a call from Pakistan at 2:47am on August 10. The suspects were arrested upon returning to the UK on September 13 and charged two days later with causing or allowing the death of a child.
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Having lived with Sara before her death, the accused have denied all charges and pleaded not guilty. A post-mortem examination revealed Sara had sustained “multiple and extensive injuries,” though the exact cause of death remains undetermined, according to an inquest.
The trial, overseen by High Court judge Justice Cavanagh, is expected to last up to seven weeks, BBC reports.
