The Old Bailey Crown Court has delivered its verdict in the Sara Sharif murder case, sentencing Sara’s father, Irfan Sharif, and her stepmother, Beinash Batool, to life imprisonment.
According to reports, during the hearing judge, John Cavanagh, remarked that Sara Sharif was subjected to abuse in front of the family while her uncle, Faisal Malik, remained a witness to the incident. The judge expressed dismay that none of the accused showed any remorse for their actions.
The court observed that Irfan Sharif continued to deny the violence for six days despite the evidence. Both Beinash Batool and Irfan Sharif chose to remain silent throughout the trial.
Judge Cavanagh stated that even after serving the minimum term of their sentence, there is no guarantee of their release. Following the minimum sentence period, parole authorities will decide on their release.
The judge further ruled that upon their release, Irfan Sharif and Beinash Batool will remain on licence for the rest of their lives. Any violation of the terms of their licence will result in their return to prison.
Judge John Cavanagh revealed that Sara’s body bore 71 fresh injuries, indicating they occurred just a few days prior to her death. A doctor also reported the presence of some older injuries, in addition to the fresh ones.
