Sara Sharif trial murder latest: Schoolgirl’s head ‘covered with homemade hood’ in weeks before death
Fingerprints allegedly belonging to 10-year-old’s father Urfan Sharif found on one of bags, second day of trial hears
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Sara Sharif’s head was covered with “homemade hoods” made of plastic bags and parcel tape in the weeks before her death, a court has heard on the second day of her murder trial.
The Old Bailey also heard on Tuesday that fingerprints allegedly belonging to the 10-year-old’s father, Urfan Sharif, were found on one of the bags and a bit of parcel tape.
Earlier, jurors were told neighbour Chloe Redwin, who used to live above the family at a previous address in 2020, would hear “shockingly loud” sounds of “smacking” from their home followed by “gut-wrenching screams”, and thought Urfan Sharif was “conscious of the noise his family made, because on occasions he would apologise for it”.
Surrey Police discovered Sara dead in a bedroom at her home in Woking on 10 August last year.
The court heard on Monday that the child was found with “disturbing” injuries that included bitemarks, scalding and broken bones in what was described as a “campaign of abuse”.
Urfan Sharif, 42, is standing trial before Mr Justice Cavanagh alongside Sara’s stepmother Beinash Batool, 30, and her uncle Faisal Malik, 29.
The defendants, formerly of Hammond Road in Woking, have pleaded not guilty to Sara’s murder and to causing or allowing the death of a child between 16 December 2022 and 9 August 2023.
All three deny murder charges
The defendants have pleaded not guilty to her murder and to causing or allowing the death of a child between December 16 2022 and August 9 2023.
Last week, a jury was selected in the trial of Sharif, Batool and Malik, formerly of Hammond Road in Woking.
The prosecutor is expected to open the trial this morning.
In pictures: Sara Sharif
How long will the trial last?
All three defendants, formerly of Hammond Road in Woking, have pleaded not guilty to her murder and to causing or allowing the death of Sara Sharif between 16 December 2022 and 9 August 2023.
The jury was selected last week with prosecutor William Emlyn Jones KC due to open the case on Monday at the Old Bailey.
The trial before Mr Justice Cavanagh is due to go on until 13 December.
Sara Sharif trial to begin
Urfan Sharif, 42, her stepmother Beinash Batool, 30, and her uncle Faisal Malik, 29, are accused of killing 10-year-old family member Sara.
They are all standing trial over her death.
The child’s body was found at her home in Surrey on 10 August.
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