THE FATHER and stepmother of Sara Sharif, a 10-year-old girl who was found dead in her home in August 2023, have been sentenced to life in prison.
Sara’s father, Urfan Sharif, 43, was sentenced to a minimum of 40 years, while her stepmother, Beinash Batool, 30, received a minimum term of 33 years.
Sara was discovered in her home in Woking, southwest of London, after what prosecutors described as a campaign of "serious and repeated violence."
Following Sara’s death, the family fled to Pakistan but were arrested in September 2023 at London’s Gatwick airport after returning from Dubai.
During the trial at London’s Old Bailey court, prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones detailed the injuries Sara had suffered, including burns, multiple broken bones, and bite marks.
Sara Sharif’s father Urfan Sharif and his wife Beinash Batool (Image credit: Surrey Police)
Sara’s father and stepmother denied the murder charges, but the jury last week found them guilty.
Sara’s uncle, Faisal Malik, 29, was acquitted of murder but convicted of causing or allowing her death.
In court, a statement from Sara’s mother, Olga Domin, was read out, describing Sharif and Batool as "executioners." "You are sadists, although even this word is not enough for you," the statement said. "I would say you are executioners."
Judge John Cavanagh described Sara’s abuse as akin to torture, saying, "Few crimes can be more terrible than the account of the despicable treatment of this poor child that the jury in this case have had to endure."
Malik received a 16-year sentence for his role in the case.
(With inputs from Reuters)
Clifford had previously pleaded guilty to the murders of BBC sports commentator John Hunt’s wife and two daughters at their home in northwest of London, in July 2024. (Photo: Hertfordshire Police /Handout via REUTERS)
Crossbow murderer found guilty of raping ex-girlfriend
A 26-YEAR-OLD man who murdered three women in a crossbow and stabbing attack has been found guilty of raping one of them, his ex-girlfriend, a British court ruled on Thursday.
Kyle Clifford had previously pleaded guilty to the murders of BBC sports commentator John Hunt’s wife and two daughters at their home in Bushey, northwest of London, in July 2024.
The attack led to a manhunt before Clifford was found injured hours later in a north London cemetery.
A jury at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday convicted Clifford of raping 25-year-old Louise Hunt before killing her.
His sentencing for all the crimes is scheduled for Tuesday.
Clifford had admitted to murdering Carol Hunt, 61, and her daughters Louise and Hannah, 28. He had also pleaded guilty to charges of false imprisonment and possessing offensive weapons but denied raping Louise.
During the trial, the court heard that after killing Carol Hunt, Clifford waited for an hour before attacking Louise, tying her up, raping her, and then killing her with a crossbow. He later killed Hannah when she returned home from work.
The prosecution described Clifford, a former soldier, as committing a "violent, sexual act of spite" and said he was "enraged" after Louise ended their 18-month relationship. They told the court that he had "carefully planned" the attack.
Less than 24 hours before the killings, Clifford had searched for a podcast by social media influencer Andrew Tate, according to the prosecution. They argued that the murders were driven by the "violent misogyny promoted" by Tate.
Justice Joel Bennathan called Clifford’s crimes "dreadful" and "almost unspeakable".
(With inputs from AFP)