Sara Sharif showed signs of starvation and had “unusual” injuries, the fourth day of her murder trial has heard.
An osteoarticular pathologist told the Old Bailey on Thursday that the 10-year-old’s bone marrow had been “unusual” in his examination of her body, and had shown up with a “bluey tinge”, which revealed itself to be gelatinous transformation of the bone marrow.
This can often be associated with starvation or the rapid removal of nutrition, although Professor Anthony Freemont could not say if this was a direct cause.
Sara’s father Urfan Sharif, 42, her stepmother Beinash Batool, 30, and her uncle Faisal Malik, 29, all deny her murder.
The court heard on Wednesday that the 10-year-old died as a result of “complications arising from multiple injuries and neglect”, according to a pathologist.
She had suffered two traumatic injuries in the days before her death, as well as 71 recent injuries including bruises, abrasions, skin ulcers consistent with burns and probable bite marks.
Surrey Police discovered the schoolgirl dead in a bedroom at her home in Woking on 10 August last year.
The court heard earlier in the week that Sara’s head was covered with “homemade hoods” made of plastic bags and parcel tape in the weeks before her death.
Jurors were also told neighbour Chloe Redwin would hear “shockingly loud” sounds of “smacking” from their family home followed by “gut-wrenching screams”.
Key Points
- Sara Sharif showed signs of starvation and had ‘unusual’ injuries, jury told
- Schoolgirl suffered at least 71 fresh injuries although true total unknown, jury told
- Pathologist details string of bruises, burns and injuries found on Sara Sharif’s body
Sara Sharif had 71 injuries across her body
04:00
Holly Evans
Giving evidence on Wednesday, forensic pathologist Dr Nathaniel Cary said some of Sara’s external injuries, which included dozens of bruises, grazes and burns, were the result of “repetitive blunt trauma” and “blunt impact or solid pressure, or both.”
He told the court there were more than 71 injuries to the little girl’s body.
They included significant damage internally, including bleeding on her brain, multiple bruises on her lungs and multiple skeletal injuries, jurors heard.
Dr Cary presented his findings from a post-mortem examination of Sara’s body he carried out on August 15 2023 which took around three hours.
Sara had a height of 1.37 metres and a weight of 27 kilograms, with both measurements within the average bracket for a child her age but towards the lower end, the court heard.
In pictures: Courtroom drawings show defendants in the dock
02:00
Holly Evans
Sara Sharif showed signs of starvation and suffered broken bone in neck weeks before death, jury told
Friday 18 October 2024 00:00
Holly Evans
Sara Sharif showed signs of starvation or the “rapid removal of food”, according to a pathologist who discovered an unusual indicator in her bone marrow, a jury was told.
A trial at the Old Bailey also heard how the 10-year-old schoolgirl had likely been strangled until a bone in her neck had broken, up to three months before she died last August.
It was one of many injuries the young girl suffered in an alleged “campaign of abuse”, which also included burns, broken bones and extensive bruising.
Read the full article from today’s court proceedings here:
‘Gut-wrenching screams’ and note that read ‘I lost it’: Sara Sharif jury told of campaign of abuse
Thursday 17 October 2024 22:00
Holly Evans
Schoolgirl Sara Sharif was forced to wear “homemade hoods” of plastic bags and parcel tape as she endured a campaign of abuse which lasted up to two years, a court heard.
The 10-year-old’s blood was found on a cricket bat and a vacuum cleaner at the family home, jurors at the Old Bailey were told.
Prosecutor William Emlyn Jones KC also alleged that bruises found on her body matched a belt buckle and plastic-coated metal pole found in an outhouse at the property – where police also found a rolling pin with traces of her DNA.
Read the full article from Tuesday here:
Fractures to her hand and neck could be linked to 'direct blow’ or ‘manual strangulation’
Thursday 17 October 2024 21:00
Holly Evans
Detailing her injuries, Professor Freemont said that Sara’s injury to the capitate bone in her left hand was “rare” in children, and was usually caused by “falling onto the outstretched hand or a direct blow to the hand”.
Asked if the fractures to her fingers were unusual, he responded: “They’re seen relatively frequently and they’re commonly associated with pulling the fingers apart.”
Of the fracture to her hyoid bone, he said: “It depends on the setting but in the setting of neck compression, it’s fractured in 25 per cent of cases, the most common type of cases is manual strangulation.”
Listen: Sara Sharif's father tells 999 operator he's killed daughter
Thursday 17 October 2024 20:00
Holly Evans
Pictured: The three defendants on trial for Sara Sharif’s murder
Thursday 17 October 2024 19:00
Holly Evans
Police bodycam footage from night Sara Sharif's body was discovered
Thursday 17 October 2024 18:00
Holly Evans
Sara Sharif was strangled until a bone in her neck broke, court hears
Thursday 17 October 2024 17:00
Holly Evans
Sara Sharif had been strangled until a bone in her neck broke up to three months before she died, a court has heard.
Jurors previously heard the 10-year-old had suffered more than 70 injuries, shortly before she was found dead in her home in Woking, Surrey, on August 10 last year.
Sara’s father Urfan Sharif, 42, is on trial at the Old Bailey accused of his daughter’s murder, alongside Sara’s stepmother Beinash Batool, 30, and uncle, Faisal Malik, 29.
Read the full article here:
Trial adjourns for the day
Thursday 17 October 2024 16:36
Holly Evans
The trial of Urfan Sharif, Beinash Batool and Faisal Malik has been adjourned for the day, and will resume on Friday.
Cell site data shows defendant’s going to work and hairdressers
Thursday 17 October 2024 15:25
Holly Evans
Cell site data shows in the weeks before Sara’s death, the defendants continued life as usual, with both Urfan Sharif and Faisal Malik attending work.
Meanwhile Beinash Batool had spent time organising a child’s birthday party and visited the hairdresser.
Earlier this morning, jurors heard that she been strangled until a bone in her neck broke up to three months before she died. Other injuries analysed included two fractures in the girl’s fingers which had occurred between 12 and 18 days before her death, based on his analysis of the stage of healing the injuries were at.
Pathologist says ‘high likelihood’ injuries are non-accidental
Thursday 17 October 2024 14:39
Holly Evans
Earlier this morning, Professor Freemont said was questioned on the nature of the injuries and told jurors: “If you find fractures of different ages and different bones, there is a high likelihood they are non-accidental injuries.”
The pathologist went on to say that the bone marrow he examined from Sara’s body showed changes which could have been caused by starvation or “the rapid removal of all food”.
The previous day, jurors heard that another pathologist who carried out a post-mortem examination on Sara’s body gave the girl’s cause of death as “complications arising from multiple injuries and neglect”.
Trial resumes
Thursday 17 October 2024 14:13
Holly Evans
Proseuctor Bill Emlyn-Jones has resumed questioning Surrey Police analyst Vernie Govender at the Old Bailey.
We’ll bring you all the latest updates.
In pictures: The family home where schoolgirl was found dead
Thursday 17 October 2024 14:05
Tara Cobham
In pictures: Sara Sharif before her death
Thursday 17 October 2024 13:40
Holly Evans
Trial breaks for lunch
Thursday 17 October 2024 13:09
Holly Evans
The trial has broken for lunch and will resume at 2pm.
How did this happen to Sara Sharif? What we know about the events leading to schoolgirl’s death
Thursday 17 October 2024 12:49
Holly Evans
Schoolgirl Sara Sharif was hooded, restrained and beaten with a belt buckle and pole in a “campaign of abuse” lasting more than two years before her death, a court has heard.
Taxi driver Urfan Sharif, 42, is on trial at the Old Bailey accused of his 10-year-old daughter’s murder alongside Sara’s stepmother Beinash Batool, 30, and uncle, Faisal Malik, 29. All three deny murder and the defence is yet to mount its case.
Police found Sara’s body in a bunk bed in her family home in Woking, Surrey, on 10 August last year, with “disturbing” injuries that included bitemarks, scalding and broken bones.
Read the full article here:
Fractures to her hand and neck could be linked to 'direct blow’ or ‘manual strangulation’
Thursday 17 October 2024 12:16
Holly Evans
Detailing her injuries, Professor Freemont said that Sara’s injury to the capitate bone in her left hand was “rare” in children, and was usually caused by “falling onto the outstretched hand or a direct blow to the hand”.
Asked if the fractures to her fingers were unusual, he responded: “They’re seen relatively frequently and they’re commonly associated with pulling the fingers apart.”
Of the fracture to her hyoid bone, he said: “It depends on the setting but in the setting of neck compression, it’s fractured in 25 per cent of cases, the most common type of cases is manual strangulation.”
Sara Sharif had sustained fractures to fingers ‘12 to 18 days’ before death
Thursday 17 October 2024 12:00
Holly Evans
Sara Sharif had suffered fractures in her fingers and left hand up to 12 to 18 days before her death, the Old Bailey has heard.
She had also suffered a fracture to her hyoid bone in her neck, which is believed to have occurred between six to 12 weeks before she died on 8 August.
Jurors have heard from Professor Anthony Freemont, an osteoarticular pathologist, who examined bones from Sara’s body.
He added that her bone marrow had been “unusual” in his examination, and had shown up with a “bluey tinge” which revealed itself to be gelatinous transformation of the bone marrow. This can often be associated with starvation or the rapid removal of nutrition, although Professor Freemont could not say if this was a direct cause.
Watch: Stepmother of Sara Sharif requests ‘earliest possible’ flights after child’s death
Thursday 17 October 2024 11:30
Tara Cobham
Trial resumes for the fourth day
Thursday 17 October 2024 11:30
Holly Evans
The trial of Urfan Sharif, Beinash Batool and Faisal Malik has resumed for the fourth day at the Old Bailey.
Jurors are expected to hear evidence from Professor Anthony Freemont, an osteoarticular pathologist.
What trial heard yesterday
Thursday 17 October 2024 10:54
Tara Cobham
- Sara Sharif had suffered more than 70 injuries shortly before she was found dead in her home, the court heard.
- Giving evidence on Wednesday, forensic pathologist Dr Nathaniel Cary presented his findings from a post-mortem examination of Sara’s body he carried out on August 15 2023 which took around three hours.
- He gave the girl’s cause of death as “complications arising from multiple injuries and neglect”.
- He said some of Sara’s external injuries, which included dozens of bruises, grazes and burns, were the result of “repetitive blunt trauma” and “blunt impact or solid pressure, or both.”
- He told the more than 71 injuries to the little girl’s body included significant damage internally, including bleeding on her brain, multiple bruises on her lungs and multiple skeletal injuries, jurors heard.
In pictures: Sara’s father, stepmother and uncle stand trial as they deny her murder
Thursday 17 October 2024 10:27
Tara Cobham
Pictured: Note allegedly found by Sara Sharif’s body
Thursday 17 October 2024 09:17
Holly Evans
A note that was allegedly found by Sara Sharif’s body in her father’s handwriting has been pictured in court.
Taxi driver Urfan Sharif, 42, is on trial at the Old Bailey accused of his 10-year-old daughter’s murder alongside Sara’s stepmother Beinash Batool, 30, and uncle, Faisal Malik, 29.
It is alleged within hours of her death the defendants had booked a flight out of the country.
Read the full article here:
Schoolgirl Sara Sharif suffered a catalogue of 71 injuries before her death, jury told
Thursday 17 October 2024 08:01
Jabed Ahmed
Read the full report from the third day of the trial from our crime correspondent Amy-Clare Martin:
What did the court hear on Wednesday?
Thursday 17 October 2024 07:00
Holly Evans
On the third day of the trial at the Old Bailey, jurors heard:
- Sara Sharif had suffered more than 70 injuries shortly before she was found dead
- A pathologist gave her cause of death as “complications arising from multiple injuries and neglect”.
- No natural diseases or drugs had contributed to her death, which was described as “unnatural”.
- Older injuries included scarring on her left jawline, scars around her pelvis, a puncture wound to her forehead and marks from the lower left leg to the top of the foot.
- Bruises on her legs were likely caused by “multiple impacts with a linear object”, likely an item used as a weapon.
- Traces of the 10-year-old’s blood were discovered on the kitchen floor, a vacuum cleaner and a cricket bat
Sara Sharif had more than 70 recent injuries after her death, court told
Thursday 17 October 2024 06:00
Holly Evans
Stepmother of Sara Sharif requests ‘earliest possible’ flights after child’s death
Thursday 17 October 2024 04:00
Holly Evans
Sara died of ‘complications arising from multiple injuries and neglect'
Thursday 17 October 2024 02:00
Holly Evans
Reading his conclusions, Dr Cary gave Sara’s cause of death as “complications arising from multiple injuries and neglect” and described it as “unnatural”.
He said the findings were in keeping with “significant and repetitive blunt force trauma” and did not exclude the possibility of Sara’s burns contributing to her death through sepsis.
Previously, jurors have heard Sara had suffered “probable human bite marks”, an iron burn and scalding from hot water.
Traces of the 10-year-old’s blood were discovered on the kitchen floor, a vacuum cleaner and a cricket bat following a police search of the family home, the prosecution said.
The defendants, of Hammond Road in Woking, have denied murder and causing or allowing the death of a child between December 16 2022 and August 9 2023.
Police bodycam footage from night Sara Sharif's body was discovered
Thursday 17 October 2024 00:00
Holly Evans
No natural diseases or drugs had contributed to Sara’s death
Wednesday 16 October 2024 22:00
Holly Evans
Dr Cary presented his findings from a post-mortem examination of Sara’s body he carried out on 15 August 2023 which took around three hours.
Sara had a height of 1.37 metres and a weight of 27 kilograms, with both measurements within the average bracket for a child her age but towards the lower end, the court heard.
The court heard no natural diseases or drugs had contributed to Sara’s death.
Among the older injuries were “blotchy scarring” on the left jawline, multiple purple scars around the pelvis, marks from the lower left leg to the top of the foot and fine scars and blotchy brown discolouration on the left forearm.
Recent injuries were identified across all parts of Sara’s body, including on her face, fingers, ankles and back.
The key dates in Sara Sharif’s tragic death
Wednesday 16 October 2024 21:00
Holly Evans
Ten-year-old Sara Sharif died after an alleged “campaign of abuse” in the home she shared with her father, stepmother and uncle.
A court heard on Tuesday that a “high pitched scream” was heard two days before the 10-year-old was killed and her family fled to Pakistan.
Taxi driver Urfan Sharif, 42, is on trial at the Old Bailey accused of his daughter’s murder alongside Sara’s stepmother, Beinash Batool, 30, and uncle, Faisal Malik, 29.
Police found Sara’s body in a bunk bed in her home in Woking, Surrey, on August 10 last year following a call from Sharif in Pakistan saying he “beat her up too much” for being “naughty”, the court has heard.
Read the full article here:
Listen: Sara Sharif's father tells 999 operator he's killed daughter
Wednesday 16 October 2024 19:00
Holly Evans
How did this happen to Sara Sharif? What we know about the events leading to schoolgirl’s death
Wednesday 16 October 2024 18:00
Holly Evans
Schoolgirl Sara Sharif was hooded, restrained and beaten with a belt buckle and pole in a “campaign of abuse” lasting more than two years before her death, a court has heard.
Taxi driver Urfan Sharif, 42, is on trial at the Old Bailey accused of his 10-year-old daughter’s murder alongside Sara’s stepmother Beinash Batool, 30, and uncle, Faisal Malik, 29. All three deny murder and the defence is yet to mount its case.
Police found Sara’s body in a bunk bed in her family home in Woking, Surrey, on 10 August last year, with “disturbing” injuries that included bitemarks, scalding and broken bones.
Read the full article here:
What did the court hear on Wednesday?
Wednesday 16 October 2024 17:00
Holly Evans
On the third day of the trial at the Old Bailey, jurors heard:
- Sara Sharif had suffered more than 70 injuries shortly before she was found dead
- A pathologist gave her cause of death as “complications arising from multiple injuries and neglect”.
- No natural diseases or drugs had contributed to her death, which was described as “unnatural”.
- Older injuries included scarring on her left jawline, scars around her pelvis, a puncture wound to her forehead and marks from the lower left leg to the top of the foot.
- Bruises on her legs were likely caused by “multiple impacts with a linear object”, likely an item used as a weapon.
- Traces of the 10-year-old’s blood were discovered on the kitchen floor, a vacuum cleaner and a cricket bat
Pathologist ‘can’t exclude’ possibility that burns contributed to death, court told
Wednesday 16 October 2024 16:34
Amy-Clare Martin
The pathologist noted he “could not exclude” the possibility that burns contributed to Sara’s death through sepsis.
Dr Cary said there was a chance that infection could have entered her blood stream and caused generalised collapse.
The schoolgirl had suffered at least 71 injuries inflicted the the days before her death, including a number of skin ulcers consistent with burns. There was a large area of ulceration on Sara’s buttock, the court heard, while there two ulcerated areas over her ankle bones.
The jury previously heard Sara had suffered “probable human bite marks”, an iron burn and scalding from hot water.
The defendants deny murder and causing or allowing the death of a child.
Schoolgirl had ‘gaping' head injury, court told
Wednesday 16 October 2024 16:07
Amy-Clare Martin
A “gaping” head wound was among 71 injuries found on Sara Sharif’s body by a forensic pathologist.
Dr Cary, who carried out a three-hour post-mortem examination on 15 August 2023 last year, told jurors she suffered a puncture wound on her forehead which was “sharp or semi-sharp” and had been left “gaping”.
Other recent injuries were identified across all parts of Sara’s body, including on her face, fingers, ankles and back. She was 4ft 6 and weighed 4 stone 3lbs.
He also identified multiple scars on her body, including “blotchy scarring” on the left jawline, multiple purple scars around the pelvis, marks from the lower left leg to the top of the foot and fine scars and blotchy brown discolouration on the left forearm.
The court heard no natural diseases or drugs had contributed to Sara’s death.
Sara Sharif’s death was caused by multiple injuries and neglect, court told
Wednesday 16 October 2024 15:41
Amy Clare-Martin
Pathologist Dr Cary concluded the 10-year-old died from complications arising from multiple injuries and neglect, the court heard.
Her death was described as “cumulative” rather than being attributed to one specific injury or incident.
However the pathologist said she may have gradually succumbed to two traumatic brain injuries she suffered two to five days earlier if she was left unattended.
In his conclusions he noted “widespread” injuries to the skin’s surface, including puncture wounds, bruising and internal injuries to the abdomen.
“These findings are in keeping with significant and repetitive blunt force trauma,” he told the Old Bailey, adding that the pattern of injuries are in keeping with the use of an “instrument”.
Sara suffered two traumatic brain injuries 2 to 5 days before her death, court told
Wednesday 16 October 2024 15:15
Amy-Clare Martin
The schoolgirl suffered two traumatic brain injuries inflicted two to five days before she died, the court heard.
The head injuries could have caused neurological symptoms including loss of consciousness, concussion, headaches, irritability, vomiting and seizures. These “might have contributed to the death together with other injuries”, the jury were told.
Shortly before her death her brain was deprived of oxygen causing a separate ischemic brain injury which was described as a potential “terminal event” by Dr Cary.
She also suffered bruising consistent with blunt force impact to the abdomen, Dr Cary said.
Schoolgirl suffered ‘conspicuous haemorrhage’ at site of shoulder-to-shoulder bruising, court told
Wednesday 16 October 2024 14:20
Amy-Clare Martin
Detailing the internal injuries, pathologist Dr Nathaniel Cary said he found evidence of “conspicuous haemorrhage” at the site of “intense” bruising on Sara’s chest.
The expert agreed the injury was a “broad collar” of bruising over the front of the schoolgirl’s upper chest under questioning by prosecutor Mr Emlyn Jones.
He previously described the injury as “intense purplish red bruising” around her neck and torso. He said these could have been the result of either “blunt impact or solid pressure, or both”.