UK police appeal for clues about Sara’s death

10-year-old girl's body was discovered at her family's home in southern England on August 10


AFP September 23, 2023
Handout photos released by Surrey Police of Urfan Sharif (L), Beinash Batool, and Faisal Malik. PHOTO: AFP

LONDON:

British police on Friday released new pictures and renewed their appeal for information into the death of a 10-year-old girl, whose father will face trial for her murder.

Sara Sharif's body was discovered at her family's home in southern England on August 10. A post-mortem examination revealed Sharif had sustained "multiple and extensive injuries" over a long period.

Her father, stepmother and uncle have been charged with murder and causing or allowing the death of a child. They are expected to stand trial next autumn.

Surrey Police said they were releasing the new images "as part of our ongoing appeal for information to help us build a picture of her life prior to the discovery of her body".

Read more: Trio wanted in Sara Sharif's death on way to UK, say police

Police added that the photos "present Sara in the way we believe she may have dressed in the months prior to her death".

"We are hoping that these images will prompt more people to come forward with information about her and her family".

One of the pictures shows Sharif wearing a black hijab in what looks like a school photo and in the other she is wearing a blue hijab.

Sara's father Urfan Sharif, 41, his partner Beinash Batool, 29, and his brother Faisal Malik, 28, travelled to Pakistan the day before her body was found.

An early morning emergency call alerting officers to Sara's death was made from Pakistan by a man identifying himself as the father, according to detectives.

Following a month in the South Asian country, they returned to the UK on September 13 and were arrested on arrival at London's Gatwick Airport.

They have been remanded in custody and are due to appear in court on December 1 for a plea hearing.

Their trial is due to begin on September 2, 2024 and is expected to last six weeks.

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