Minicab driver Urfan Sharif, 42, called police in the early hours of 10 August last year saying he had beaten her “too much” for being “naughty”, the court previously heard…………
The 10-year-old’s body was found in a bunkbed at the family home in Woking, Surrey, with dozens of injuries, including bruises, burns, broken bones and bite marks, after he and the rest of the family had fled to Pakistan.
Urfan Sharif, who denies murder, admits causing at least 25 fractures by hitting 10-year-old Sara with a cricket bat or pole.
In footage shown in court Sara Sharif’s family was seen leaving for the airport the day before her body was found.
Image:
Sara Sharif. Pic: Surrey Police
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Sara Sharif’s father – who is accused of her murder – has told jurors he “takes full responsibility” for the death of his daughter.
Minicab driver Urfan Sharif, 42, called police in the early hours of 10 August last year saying he had beaten her “too much” for being “naughty”, the court previously heard.
The 10-year-old’s body was found in a bunkbed at the family home in Woking, Surrey, with dozens of injuries, including bruises, burns, broken bones and bite marks, after he and the rest of the family had fled to Pakistan.
Sharif is on trial alongside Sara’s stepmother Beinash Batool, 30, and uncle Faisal Malik, 29, at the Old Bailey in central London.
They all deny murder and an alternative charge of causing or allowing her death.
Sharif said he had initially taken responsibility to save his family, but giving evidence in court blamed his wife for killing his daughter, saying he was out working when she was abused.
He told jurors on Wednesday: “I accept every single thing.”
He made the admission under cross-examination from Batool’s barrister Caroline Carberry KC as his wife sobbed in the dock.
Whoever see this note it’s me Urfan Sharif who killed my daughter by beating. I am running away because I am scared but I promise that I will hand over myself and take punishment.”Ms Carberry asked if he did kill his daughter by beating and Sharif replied: “Yes, she died because of me.”
She suggested: “In the weeks before she died she suffered multiple fractures to her body, didn’t she, and it was you who inflicted those injuries?”
“Yes,” Sharif replied, before accepting causing Sara’s injuries apart from the burn and bite marks.
“I take responsibility. I take full responsibility,” he said, admitting to causing at least 25 fractures by hitting Sara with a cricket bat or pole and breaking her hyoid neck bone.
