Sara Sharif’s father: 'She died because of me, I didn't want to kill her'

Taxi driver Urfan Sharif unexpectedly admitted killing his daughter under cross-examination saying “she died because of me”, as his wife Beinash Batool sobbed in the dock of the Old Bailey. ITV News’ Charlie Frost reports

Warning: This article contains details readers might find distressing

Sara Sharif’s father admitted in court to beating and killing his 10-year-old daughter, but pleaded not guilty to her murder.

Taxi driver Urfan Sharif, 42, told jurors he “took full responsibility” for Sara’s death at the Old Bailey on Wednesday, whilst his wife Beinash Batool, 30, sobbed in the dock.

Previously, Sharif had sought to blame Batool for killing his daughter but on Wednesday told jurors: “I accept every single thing.”

Cross-examining for his wife, Caroline Carberry KC asked Sharif about a note he left beside the body of his daughter before leaving for Pakistan.

In it, he wrote “love you Sara” on the first page followed by the words: “Whoever see this note it’s me Urfan Sharif who killed my daughter by beating.”

However, when asked if he was guilty of murder, Mr Sharif denied the charges. He said: “No. I did not want to hurt her. I didn’t want to harm her.”

Ms Carberry KC said: “Do you accept that you killed her?” Sharif said: “She died because of me. I didn’t want to kill her.”

Sara was found dead at the family home in Woking, Surrey, on August 10 2023 after the defendants fled to Pakistan.

Ms Carberry KC asked if he did indeed kill his daughter by beating and Sharif replied: “Yes, she died because of me.”

Sharif accepted causing injuries, bar burn and bite marks to Sara and admitted causing fractures in the weeks before she died by binding his daughter with tape and hitting her with a cricket bat or pole.

Asked if he broke Sara’s hyoid neck bone, he repeated: “I can take full responsibility. I accept every single thing.”

Sharif made the shock admissions on the seventh day of his evidence to the jury.

Batool, Sara’s stepmother, cried in the dock as a video of Sara’s 10th birthday celebration was played to the court on Wednesday.

Previously, Sharif had put the blame on Batool and claimed that he was out of the house working in his taxi when the abuse was going on.

Earlier in the week, Ms Carberry KC told him: “You are a lying, manipulative and controlling man, aren’t you?”

Sharif replied: “No, I am not.”

Sharif, Batool, and Sara’s uncle Faisal Malik formerly of Hammond Road, Woking, deny Sara’s murder and causing or allowing her death.