A UK court on Thursday upheld the lengthy prison sentences given to the father and stepmother of 10-year-old British-Pakistani girl Sara Sharif, who was brutally killed after years of torture and abuse.
The trial of Urfan Sharif and his wife, Beinash Batool, sparked nationwide outrage over the horrific mistreatment Sara endured and the systemic failures that allowed her suffering to continue.
Sharif, 43, Batool, 30, and her uncle, Faisal Malik, 29, all lost their appeals against their sentences. The court also rejected a request from the solicitor general’s office to impose a whole-life sentence on Sharif.
In December, Sharif was sentenced to 40 years for Sara’s murder, while Batool was ordered to serve at least 33 years. Malik received a 16-year sentence for causing or allowing her death.
Sara’s body was discovered in August 2023 at the family home, covered in bites and bruises, with broken bones and burns inflicted by an electric iron and boiling water.
During the appeal, Sharif’s lawyer, Naeem Majid Mian, argued that while Sara’s treatment was “horrendous,” the 40-year sentence was excessive, claiming there was no intent to kill or premeditation.
However, the solicitor general’s office pushed for a harsher punishment, arguing that Sharif should have received a whole-life order. “The judge was wrong not to impose a whole-life sentence,” lawyer Tom Little stated in court documents.
Batool’s lawyer also contested her 33-year sentence, claiming it did not fairly reflect her role in Sara’s death. However, the court upheld the original verdict, ensuring all three perpetrators remain behind bars.
