Sara Sharif’s father admits being ‘selfish’ and a ‘very bad father’

Sara Sharif’s father has admitted being “selfish” and a “bad father” by lying to protect himself over the death of his 10-year-old daughter.

On Wednesday, Urfan Sharif said he took “full responsibility” for his 10-year-old daughter’s death and admitted beating her with a cricket bat and a metal pole.

And today he told the court his previous lies about what happened meant he had no credibility, now he had accepted responsibility for her death.

Sharif, 42, his wife, Beinash Batool, 30 and his brother Faisal Malik, 29 are on trial at the Old Bailey accused of carrying out a violent “campaign of abuse” before Sara was found dead in a bunk bed at the family home in Woking Surrey in 10 August 2023.

They are accusing of killing Sara on 8 August before fleeing to Pakistan. The family returned from Pakistan a month later and were arrested at Gatwick.

Sharif, a taxi driver, was asked by Michael Ivers KC, representing Malik, about why he returned from Pakistan.

Ivers asked: “You were originally saying you came back to lie to protect [a member of the family] and then you’ve come back and told a pack of lies to protect yourself.”

Sharif replied: “I’ve been selfish.”

Ivers reminded Sharif that before saying he was responsible for Sara’s death, he had blamed his wife for the girl’s death for six days in the witness box.

He began Thursday’s hearing by asking Sharif “do you think you have a credibility problem?”.

Sharif replied: “Yes sir”. When asked why, Sharif said: “Because I didn’t tell the truth.”

Ivers asked: “Your case had been, before you changed it, that you had only learned of other injuries for the first time at the police station. Was that true?”

Sharif replied: “No.”

A postmortem examination found Sara had fractures and 71 external injuries, including burns and human bite marks.

Ivers reminded Sharif that he previously cried in front of the jury.

“Your actions weren’t you mourning the loss of your daughter but you seeking to persuade these 12 people of a pack of lives,” he said.

Sharif replied: “I did lie but you can’t imagine my pain. I’m a bad father, a very bad father, but I’m still a father.”

Ivers also asked Sharif if he had imagined his own daughter’s pain.

‘‘You know how many broken bones she suffered, don’t you? I don’t want to upset people, but she must have screamed, cried and heaven knows what?’ Ivers said.

Sharif nodded in the dock.

He claimed he was telling the truth when he denied abusing Sara’s mother, Olga, and two other girlfriends.

Ivers pointed out that all three women had alleged they had been locked up and had their passports taken away by Sharif.

Sharif, Batool and Malik all deny murder and causing or allowing the death of a child.

The trial continues.