A United Kingdom court sentenced on Tuesday the father and stepmother of British-Pakistani girl Sara Sharif, who was killed from prolonged and horrific abuse in a case which shocked the country, for life, BBC News reported.

“Urfan Sharif for the murder of Sara Sharif, I sentence you to imprisonment for life. Taking account of all the relevant circumstances and the aggravating and mitigating factors that I have set out, the minimum term will be 40 years,” the judge, Justice John Cavanagh, said while announcing the sentences.

Her stepmother, Beinash Batool, was also given a life sentence for her murder, with a minimum term of 33 years.

Faisal Malik, Sara’s uncle, received a jail sentence of 16 years for causing or allowing the death of a child. “You will serve up to two-thirds of your sentence in custody. You will remainder on the licence. You must keep the terms of your licence and commit no further offence or you will be liable to recalled and then you may serve your remainder of sentence in custody,” the judge said.

Sara Sharif was just 10 when she was found dead in her bed in August 2023, her body covered in bites and bruises, with broken bones and burn marks.

A post-mortem revealed she had more than 100 injuries, and at least 25 broken bones.

Her father Urfan Sharif, 43, admitted to beating her with a cricket bat, as she was bound by packaging tape in the weeks before her death. He also throttled her with his bare hands, breaking the hyoid bone in her neck.

Urfan Sharif and Sara’s stepmother, Beinash Batool, 30, were found guilty last week after a 10-week trial at the Old Bailey in London.

Hearing

The judge, Justice John Cavanagh, stated that the minimum prison term for Urfan Sharif, Sara’s father, will start at 30 years.

“You plainly derived grim satisfaction from your campaign of violence against Sara,” he said.

The judge indicated that various aggravating factors would significantly increase this minimum term, as he detailed the years of abuse and cover-ups that Sara endured.

The judge then addressed Beinash Batool, Sara’s stepmother, highlighting her role in both the abuse and its cover-up. He stated that Batool was “willing to sacrifice Sara,” indicating her lack of concern for the child since she was not her biological daughter.

The judge emphasized Batool’s complicity in the abuse and announced that her minimum prison term, like that of her husband Urfan Sharif, would also begin at 30 years.

Justice Cavanagh detailed several aggravating factors in the case against Batool. He highlighted Sara’s “young age and vulnerability,” noting that Batool had the ability to halt the abusive treatment, which she knew was wrong.

The judge pointed out that Batool targeted Sara as a female child with a different mother. He mentioned the use of weapons and restraints, as well as efforts to conceal Sara’s injuries, all occurring within the sight and hearing of other children.

He noted that Batool failed to call an ambulance for Sara and fled to Pakistan after the incident, stating that she displayed “no credible remorse” for her actions.

At the opening of his remarks, the judge clarified that he must also establish a minimum term that they must serve before being eligible for parole.

He emphasised two critical points: first, the minimum term does not guarantee their automatic release after that time; it simply marks the earliest moment their case can be reviewed by the parole board. Second, the judge stressed that the sentence should not be viewed as a reflection of the value of Sara’s life.

Justice Cavanagh acknowledged that no ruling could ever compensate for the loss of Sara’s life, highlighting the profound impact of this tragedy.

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In the proceedings, Justice Cavanagh reflected on the spirit of Sara, describing her as “a very courageous little girl” who loved to sing and dance.

He noted a video filmed shortly before her death, showing Sara dancing in front of the television, which revealed her impaired mobility yet captured her infectious smile.

Among the most poignant pieces of evidence presented was a short story in which Sara referred to her stepmother, Beinash Batool, as a “queen,” along with a birthday card for her father that expressed, “I love you, dad.” There was also an apology note in which she sought forgiveness for speaking back.

The judge remarked that Sara had come to accept the abuse as a normal part of her life, stating, “She had known nothing else for her entire life.” He emphasized that both Sharif and Batool had manipulated Sara into believing she deserved such treatment.