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Sara Sharif's stepmum 'a psycho', jury told Stepmum tied Sara Sharif up with tape, jury told
(about 2 hours later)
Sara Sharif was found dead at her home in Woking Sara Sharif's body was found at her home in Woking on 10 August last year
A father accused of murdering Sara Sharif has said the 10-year-old’s stepmother is a “psycho” and “evil”, a jury has heard. A stepmother accused of killing Sara Sharif tied the 10-year-old’s hands behind her back with tape for being naughty, a court has heard.
Sara's body was found with dozens of injuries in a bunkbed at the family home in Woking, Surrey, in August last year. Sara’s body was found with dozens of injuries at the family’s home in Woking, Surrey, last year, the Old Bailey was told.
Her father Urfan Sharif, 42, stepmother Beinash Batool, 30, and uncle, Faisal Malik, 29, have denied murder.Her father Urfan Sharif, 42, stepmother Beinash Batool, 30, and uncle, Faisal Malik, 29, have denied murder.
Mr Sharif told a jury at the Old Bailey on Thursday that he slapped Sara after Ms Batool told him Sara had injured some of the other children. Giving evidence, Mr Sharif told jurors he returned home unexpectedly to find a “terrified” Sara with her hands tied with packing tape.
He went on to say that Ms Batool would blame Sara "for everything".
“That poor girl always been accused by that psycho sitting there, that psycho sitting there, she always accused my daughter," said Mr Sharif.
Warning: This article features distressing detailsWarning: This article features distressing details
He told the court that Ms Batool was “shocked” to see him home during the incident in late June or early July last year, a matter of weeks before Sara was found dead.
Asked what his wife told him had happened, he said: “Beinash said that, ‘she’d been naughty, so I tied her hands so that she does not hurt herself’."
Asked what his reaction was, Mr Sharif told the court he shouted in anger and helped Sara.
“She was terrified, Sara. She was scared,” he said.
He told jurors Ms Batool apologised to him and said she would not do it again.
“She is very manipulative,” he added.
Urfan Sharif, 42, Beinash Batool, 30, and Faisal Malik, 29, (left to right) have denied murderUrfan Sharif, 42, Beinash Batool, 30, and Faisal Malik, 29, (left to right) have denied murder
Mr Sharif also told the court Ms Batool was a “psycho” and “evil”, and that he slapped Sara after Ms Batool told him Sara had injured some of the other children.
He went on to say that Ms Batool would blame Sara "for everything".
“That poor girl always been accused by that psycho sitting there, that psycho sitting there, she always accused my daughter," Mr Sharif said.
“Nothing happened when I was home, she always accused her of every single thing that happened.”“Nothing happened when I was home, she always accused her of every single thing that happened.”
Mr Sharif told the jury that he will speak about his daughter in detail. Jurors were told Mr Sharif's case was that Ms Batool was responsible for Sara's death, and he made a false confession in a phone call and also in a note to protect his wife.
He denied beating Sara, but said: “I have slapped her, multiple times and it's only because I was made to." Naeem Mian KC, for Mr Sharif, previously told the court that Mr Sharif arrived home to find Sara “limp” on 8 August 2023, before attempting CPR and begging for an ambulance to be called.
Asked about the bite marks found on Sara, Mr Sharif said: "I didn’t do it." “He was told in Urdu or Punjabi, ‘leave it, she’s dead’,” by Ms Batool, Mr Mian KC added.
The jury has previously been told that Mr Sharif and Mr Malik provided dental impressions and they were excluded. CCTV images of the family at Heathrow Airport
Ms Batool refused to provide a dental impression, the court heard. The court previously heard that Sara was hooded, burned and beaten during more than two years of abuse.
Mr Sharif also denies repeatedly burning her with an iron on her bottom. A post-mortem examination found Sara had suffered dozens of injuries including "probable human bite marks", an iron burn and scalding from hot water before she died on 8 August 2023.
All three defendants deny murder and deny causing or allowing the death of a child. Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones KC previously said a bloodstained cricket bat, a rolling pin with Sara’s DNA on it, a metal pole, a belt and rope were found near the family’s outhouse.
The trial at the Old Bailey continues. The court also previously heard Mr Sharif, Ms Batool and Mr Malik travelled to Islamabad, Pakistan, with other family members on 9 August 2023.
Prosecutors said Mr Sharif called police from Pakistan and admitted he killed Sara about an hour after his family’s flight had landed in Islamabad.
The three defendants, who lived with Sara in Woking before her death, are also charged with causing or allowing the death of a child, which they deny.
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