SARA Sharif’s father and stepmother have been charged with her murder after returning to the UK from Pakistan.
The charges come a month after the 10-year-old was found dead at her home in Woking, Surrey, on August 10.
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Student Sara Sharif ‘killed’ Credit: AFP
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Sara’s dad Urfan Sharif at the Sialkot airport on Wednesday morning
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He returned to the UK with his partner Beinash Batool
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The father of the 10-year-old was escorted off the plane in handcuffs Credit: The Sun
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The moment the cops caught Sarah’s dad at Gatwick Airport
Urfan Sharif (41), his partner Beinash Batool (29) and his brother Faisal Malik were arrested on suspicion of murder after several weeks on the run.
Sharif, Batool and Malik left Britain with their five children, aged one to 13, the day after Sarah’s death.
Sarah’s body was discovered after Sharif called 999 from Pakistan.
Doctors were unable to determine the cause of death, but Woking Coroner’s Court was told it was likely to be “unnatural”.
A previous autopsy revealed she had suffered “multiple and extensive injuries that likely occurred over a prolonged and extended period of time.”
On Wednesday morning, Urfan and Beinash traveled on an Emirates flight from Sialkot in the Punjab province to Dubai.
That night, officers met the couple at Gatwick Airport as their plane was landing.
The video shows officers entering the plane as police vans wait on the runway below.
Now all three are charged with murder and causing or allowing the death of a child.
He will appear at Guildford Crown Court today.
A spokesman for Surrey Police said: “Three people have been charged with the murder of 10-year-old Sarah Sharif, whose body was found at her home address in Woking on August 10.
“Today (September 15), the Crown Prosecution Service approved charges against three people, including Sara’s father, Urfan Sharif, 41, Urfan’s partner, Beinash Batool, 29, and Urfan’s brother, Faisal Malik, 28.
“They are accused of causing or allowing the death of a child.
“All three have been remanded in custody to appear at Guildford Crown Court later today.
“Sarah’s mother has been informed of this latest development and is being assisted by specialist officers.”
Sara’s devastated mum Olga told The Sun the arrests were a “weight lifted” off her shoulders.
She added: “I am very happy that the police made an arrest.
“It’s a huge relief and something I didn’t think would happen this quickly.
“I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders, but there’s still a long way to go before I feel like I’m close.”
It came after Interpol launched an international manhunt for the trio as police in Pakistan worked with officers in the UK.
Surrey Police said on Tuesday it was working to bring Sarah’s five siblings safely back from Pakistan after a court ruled they would be moved to a state-run childcare facility.
Sarah’s grandfather Muhammad Sharif said he hid the children in his house, but did not specify for how long.
Last week, a video emerged of Sharif and Batool reading a statement of horror together.
Batool said her family was “prepared to cooperate with the UK authorities and fight our case in court” – but resented the conditions in which they were living.
Batool also said her family went into hiding because “they are all afraid for their safety.”
She added: “Children cannot go to school because they are afraid to leave the house. Nobody leaves the house.
“The provisions have run out and there is no food for the children because adults cannot leave their homes for fear of safety.”
How the events unfolded:
- August 17 – Sara Sharif’s body found with “multiple and extensive” injuries after her father Urfan called 911 from Pakistan
- August 19 – International manhunt launched as Surrey Police name Sarah’s father, stepmother and uncle in connection with her death
- August 23 – Uncle claims Sara “fell down the stairs and broke her neck” before family deny giving statement
- August 29 – Inquest hears Sarah’s death “probably unnatural”
- September 6 – Sarah’s stepmother says the family wants to “fight our case in court”
- September 7 – Pakistani police raid 20 homes in Jhelum and Mirpur to retrieve Sara’s relatives
- September 9 – the police arrest ten of Sara’s close relatives in order to put pressure on Urfan
- 11 September – Police find five children believed to have traveled to Pakistan with Urfan
- 13 September – Urfan and Sara’s uncle and stepmother arrested at Gatwick Airport after returning to the UK
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Urfan’s brother Faisal Malik goes through passport control
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Her father Urfan Sharif returned to the UKCredit: AFP
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His partner Beinash Batool returned with himCredit: AFP
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Sarah’s dad and stepmother appeared in a video shared online last weekCredit: Sky News
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Sarah’s mom, Olga, shared photos of the ten-year-old Credit: Collect
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Olga demanded answers from her ex-husband regarding the death of their daughterCredit: Collection
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