Schoolgirl Sara Sharif’s cause of death remains a mystery but coroner rules it is likely to be ‘unnatural’

The cause of death of a 10-year-old girl whose body was found in her Surrey home, sparking an international manhunt, has not yet been determined, an inquest has heard.

Sara Sharif’s body was found at a property in Hammond Road, Woking, after police were called from Pakistan by her father, Urfan Sharif, on August 10.

The precise cause of death is ‘not yet ascertained’ but is likely to be ‘unnatural’, an inquest opening into her death at Surrey Coroner’s Court heard today. 

Coroner Simon Wickens confirmed Sara was born in Slough, Berkshire, on January 11 2013.

He then adjourned inquest proceedings until February 29 2024 to allow Surrey Police to carry out their investigations.

Coroner Simon Wickens opened the inquest at Surrey Coroner’s Court today

Sara Sharif ‘s body was found at a property in Hammond Road, Woking earlier this month 

Mr Wickens offered his ‘sincere condolences’ to all those ‘touched by Sara’s short life’.

The beginning of the inquest comes after the news that the child’s fugitive father is on the verge of handing himself in to police in Pakistan.

An international manhunt was launched after police discovered Sara’s body with a catalogue of injuries at the £500,000 council house in Woking following a phone call made by her father Urfan Sharif, 41, on August 10.

Mr Sharif, his wife Beinash Batool, 29, and his brother Faisal Malik, 28, fled the UK to Islamabad a day before her body was tragically found. Sara’s ‘anxious’ mother has urged her ex-husband to ‘give up’ and hand himself in to police.

Surrey Police are continuing to appeal for information to help them piece together a picture of Sara’s lifestyle prior to her death.

They widened the timescale of their investigation after the post-mortem examination revealed that Sara had suffered multiple and extensive injuries, likely to have been caused over a sustained and extended period of time.

Urfan Sharif (pictured) is on the verge of handing himself in, according to Sara Sharif’s grandfather

Ten-year-old Sara Sharif was tragically found dead at her home in Woking earlier this month. Here, she is pictured with her mother Olga

Urfan Sharif, 41, his wife Beinash Batool (pictured left), 29, and his brother Faisal Malik (pictured right), 28, fled the UK a day before Sara’s body was found

 Speaking to The Mirror from the family home in Jehlum, which is 85 miles from Islamabad, Sara’s grandfather Muhammad Sharif said: ‘As far as I know, my son and his wife are willing to surrender and they will do so soon.’

The 68-year-old claimed he had not seen his son since he fled to Pakistan and has no idea how Sara died. 

He added: ‘I want them to surrender soon as because of the police raids and investigations all of my family is in deep trouble.

‘I don’t know where they are but I can tell that they are not in Jehlum.’

Sara’s mother Olga Sharif has also spoken as Pakistani police close in on the three fugitives.

She told The Sun: ‘Until he is arrested I can’t have any sense of closure or security. It’s been a very anxious wait.’

It comes after police chief Nasir Bajwa revealed they were closing in on the group. He said on Saturday: ‘With God’s will we will make the arrest by tomorrow night.’