Father takes responsibility for death of 10-year-old daughter | Global News Avenue

Sarah Sharif’s father has accepted “full responsibility” for her death, a court has heard.

The 10-year-old girl’s father Urfan Sharif, 42, and stepmother Benash Batu were found dead last year at their home in Woking, Surrey, with dozens of injuries. Beinash Batool, 30, and uncle Faisal Malik, 29, deny murder.

Under cross-examination at the Old Bailey, Mr Sharif said: “She died because of me.” But he later denied intending to kill her.

The court previously heard that Sarah Masked, burned and beaten During more than two years of abuse.

Jurors had previously heard Mr Sharif’s case that Ms Batur was responsible for Sarah’s death and that he made false confessions in phone calls and notes to protect his wife.

But on Wednesday, as the court date approached, Mr Sharif made a surprise statement: “I admit what I said on the phone and in the written record. Every word.”

Responding to questions from Ms Bartle’s lawyer, Caroline Carberry KC, Mr Sharif suddenly said: “I want to say something.”

Ms Carberry KC asked: “Do you admit that you severely beat Sarah over a period of several weeks?”

“Yes,” he said.

“On the night of August 6th, you beat Sara severely?” Ms Carberry KC added.

“Yes,” he said.

However, Sharif later said he just wanted to “punish” Sara.

“I didn’t want to kill her,” Mr Sharif told the court.

Sharif also told jurors he used cricket bats and metal poles to cause Sarah to break bones.

Earlier, Ms Carberry KC asked Mr Sharif: “You have pleaded not guilty to murder. Would you like such a charge to be brought against you again?

“Yes,” he said.

His lawyer Naeem Mian KC then stood up and asked for time to speak to the defendant.

After a short break, Sharif refused to change his request.

As his guilty pleas piled up, some jurors were stunned.

At that time, Ms. Batur, who had been sobbing loudly, left the court.

An autopsy found that Sarah suffered dozens of injuries before her death on August 8, 2023, including “possibly human bite marks,” iron burns and hot water scalds.

Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones KC previously said a bloodstained cricket bat, a rolling pin with Sarah’s DNA, a metal pole, a belt and rope were found near the family’s outhouse.

Mr Sharif, Ms Batur and Urfan’s brother Mr Malik have all previously denied charges of murder and of causing or allowing the death of a child.