MUHAMMAD SHARIF, the grandfather of Sara Sharif, has vowed to fight attempts to return her five siblings to the UK, claiming they are safer living with him in Pakistan.
Muhammad, 69, plans to appeal to the Lahore high court against the British government's efforts to bring the children back, The Times reported.
Sara’s siblings, who lived mostly in the UK, were taken to Pakistan in August 2022 by their father, Urfan Sharif, stepmother, Beinash Batool, and uncle, Faisal Malik, shortly after Sara’s death. They fled hours after the incident, as CCTV footage showed them leaving Heathrow Airport. After a month on the run, the three returned to the UK in September, leaving the children behind.
Urfan, Batool, and Malik were convicted last week in Sara’s murder case. The eight-week trial revealed the extreme abuse Sara endured before her death on 8 August 2022. Evidence presented at the Old Bailey detailed years of mistreatment, resulting in 25 broken bones, burns, and other injuries inflicted by Urfan and Batool.
Surrey county council, responsible for the children’s welfare, has applied to the Lahore high court to secure their return, the newspaper reported. Under an agreement between Pakistan and the UK, efforts are ongoing to repatriate individuals who are "wrongfully retained."
The children, now wards of court in the UK, are currently in Muhammad’s care at his home in Jhelum. Muhammad has stated that the children are happy and attending a local school. “They are not willing to leave me,” he said, asserting that he is the best person to raise them.
The Lahore high court adjourned the custody case until mid-January. In the meantime, Muhammad has voiced doubts about his son’s conviction, describing Batool as a strict stepmother but denying knowledge of Sara’s abuse.
UK MP Will Forster and Surrey county council are urging the British and Pakistani governments to ensure the children’s welfare, with the council stating it would house all siblings together if they are returned, The Times reported. A council spokesman reiterated that the children’s wellbeing remains the priority.
An independent child safeguarding review is ongoing to examine missed opportunities to protect Sara before her death.
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)