Sara Sharif’s killer father’s 40-year sentence is to be officially reassessed for being ‘unduly LENIENT’ after 10-year-old suffered ‘unimaginable pain, misery and anxiety’

The sentence handed to Sara Sharif’s father for the murder of the 10-year-old was ‘unduly lenient’ according to the Solicitor General, who has referred it to the Court of Appeal. 

Sara suffered ‘unimaginable pain, misery and anxiety’ as she was repeatedly beaten, burned, bitten and restrained at the family home in Woking, Surrey, a trial at the Old Bailey heard.

Sara’s father Urfan Sharif, 43, was jailed for life for her murder last month with a minimum term of 40 years.

Her stepmother, Beinash Batool, 30, was also convicted of murdering Sara and was jailed for life with a minimum term of 33 years.

A spokesperson for the Attorney General’s Office said: ‘The Solicitor General Lucy Rigby MP has referred Urfan Sharif’s sentence to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

‘It is now for the court to decide whether to increase the sentence.’

Sara’s uncle, Faisal Malik, 29, was found guilty of causing or allowing her death and jailed for 16 years.

The Solicitor General’s bid comes after Sharif, Batool and Malik all made an application to the Court of Appeal with a view to appealing against their sentences, it is understood.

10-year-old Sara Sharif died in August 2023 after being subjected to ‘unimaginable pain, misery and anxiety,’ a trial at the Old Bailey heard

Sara's father Urfan Sharif was emotionless as he was found guilty of murdering his daughter. In a regime of terror, Sara was punched, strangled, battered with a cricket bat and metal pole, and burned with an iron

Sara’s father Urfan Sharif was emotionless as he was found guilty of murdering his daughter. In a regime of terror, Sara was punched, strangled, battered with a cricket bat and metal pole, and burned with an iron

Sara's stepmother Beinash Batool

Sara's uncle Faisal Malik

Sara’s stepmother Beinash Batool, 30, wept as she was found guilty of murdering the girl. Her uncle Faisal Malik, 29, was found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child

Sara Sharif’s mother’s heartbreaking victim impact statement in full

Before Sharif and Batook were jailed for life, Sara’s mother was given the opportunity to explain in her own words how her daughter’s horrific murder had impacted her.

Speaking via video-link from her native Poland, Olga Domin said: 

‘Sara was always smiling; she had her own unique character. The only thing I had left to give to my daughter was to give her a beautiful Catholic funeral that she deserves.

‘Sara is not far from home, and she is visited every day, I always light candles for her and there are flowers with her. She is now an angel who looks down on us from heaven, she is no longer experiencing violence.

‘To this day, I can’t understand how someone can be such a sadist to a child. I hoped that when she grew up we would meet but now it won’t happen, she left us too soon.

‘What has come out in court, I can’t understand what’s wrong with these people, how they allowed it, you are sadists, although even this word is not enough for you. I would say you are executioners.

‘As a result of Sara’s death, I am under constant psychological supervision, and I am also taking strong sedatives. I hope the right sentences are given to these cowards.’

Calls have also been made to name three judges who oversaw historical family court cases related to Sara.

Sara was found dead in a bunk bed at her home in Woking, Surrey, on August 10 2023 after her father rang police from Pakistan to confess he had beaten her ‘too much’.

She had suffered 71 ‘fresh’ injuries, including 25 broken bones, iron burns on her bottom, scalding marks to her feet, and human bites.

Within hours of Sara’s death, Sharif and Batool had booked flights to Pakistan for the whole family, including her five siblings and half siblings.

The defendants returned to the UK on September 13 2023, leaving the children behind, and were detained within minutes of a flight touching down at Gatwick Airport.

In a televised sentencing at the Old Bailey last month, Mr Justice Cavanagh said Sara’s death ‘was the culmination of years of neglect, frequent assaults and what can only be described as torture’, mainly at the hands of Sharif.

He told Sharif: ‘You treated her in such a way because you considered it your right to impose harsh discipline on her.

‘Sara was a brave, feisty and spirited child. She was not submissive as you wanted her to be. She stood up to you.

‘I have no doubt that your ego and sense of self-importance was boosted by the power you wielded over her and the rest of the family.’

Batool was prepared to ‘sacrifice’ her stepdaughter, the judge said, adding: ‘Put bluntly, you did not care about Sara enough to save her.’

He dismissed as ‘preposterous’ any suggestion that Malik was too busy on his phone and wearing earbuds to notice what was going on.

Sharif was allegedly attacked by two inmates in a cell at HMP Belmarsh, armed with the jagged lid of a tuna tin, on New Year’s Day, and suffered cuts to his neck and face, The Sun reported.

Sara Sharif's mother Olga Domin (right) paid a heartbreaking tribute to her 'princess' after the sentencing

Sara Sharif’s mother Olga Domin (right) paid a heartbreaking tribute to her ‘princess’ after the sentencing

Little Sara had suffered violence for years with a variety of weapons including a baseball bat and a metal pole

Little Sara had suffered violence for years with a variety of weapons including a baseball bat and a metal pole

Sara suffered broken bones from being hit with a cricket bat, pictured above in evidence

Sara suffered broken bones from being hit with a cricket bat, pictured above in evidence

Urfan Sharif and Sarah's stepmother Beinash Batool pictured together before Sara's death

Urfan Sharif and Sarah’s stepmother Beinash Batool pictured together before Sara’s death

Sara Sharif, 10, suffered 'unimaginable pain' during more than two years of abuse and was ultimately tortured to death

Sara Sharif, 10, suffered ‘unimaginable pain’ during more than two years of abuse and was ultimately tortured to death

Two inmates pounced on Urfan Sharif, 43, in his cell on New Years’ Day at HMP Belmarsh, South London.

Just weeks into his 40-year sentence, the murderer was left in a critical condition, but is understood to have survived the brutal attempt on his life. Allegedly the pair were sickened by his abuse of the 10-year-old school girl. 

According to The Sun, one of the prisoners responsible for the attack is believed to be Steven Sansom – who killed Sarah Mayhew, 38, last year and cut her body up with power tools

The 46-year-old, who also murdered a taxi driver when he was 19, is said to have cornered Sharif in his cell with the help of another inmate. 

‘Urfan was sliced up badly in his cell by two others who rushed in. It was planned and they used a makeshift weapon — made from the lid of a tin of tuna,’ a prison source was quoted as saying. 

‘He was lucky to survive, has had to have stitches and will have scars as a permanent reminder of the attack. The guards tried to keep him safe because he obviously had a target on his back after the case was such big news.

‘Something like this was always on the cards, and an attack was probably only a matter of time.’

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