Helena Wilkinson and Daniel Sandford
Reporting from the Old Bailey

Naeem Mian KC - the barrister for Sara's father, Urfan Sharif - is on his feet and says the crime "invokes a sense of outrage, anger and disgust".

But he tells the judge: "The task before your Lordship... must be approached dispassionately."

He suggests the appropriate starting point is 15 years.

"We know that will be subject to a significant uplift. We understand that as does Mr Sharif."

He adds: "The case was advanced on the basis that there was no intention to kill."

Helena Wilkinson and Daniel Sandford
Reporting from the Old Bailey

The prosecution has just finished speaking.

The court is now hearing from Naeem Mian KC, the barrister for Ufan Sharif, who begins by saying: "Nothing I say is intended to diminish or mitigate the horror."

Helena Wilkinson and Daniel Sandford
Reporting from the Old Bailey

The prosecutor now turns to discussing Faisal Malik, Sara's uncle who lived with the family and was convicted of causing or allowing a child's death.

The maximum sentence for causing or allowing the death of a child is life imprisonment, the prosecutor says, with the prosecution is suggesting a starting point of 14 years in prison for Malik.

"Sara's dreadful treatment was taking [place] in an extremely small flat, and then in a larger but still small house. Faisal Malik was living in that house as a member of the family," the prosecutor says.

Helena Wilkinson and Daniel Sandford
Reporting from the Old Bailey

"Throughout that period there had been extensive steps to cover up Sara's violence, mistreatment by these defendants including twice removing her from the school because there were injuries they felt they couldn't conceal, under the pretence they were going to home school her," says prosecutor Emyln Jones.

"We also submit that there is mitigation available by which the defendants intended not to kill her but to cause her serious harm," he adds.

But he says it "may pale into insignificance when set against the range and gravity of the aggravating features".

Helena Wilkinson and Daniel Sandford
Reporting from the Old Bailey

The prosecutor is detailing some of the abuse Sara faced, saying Sara was restrained and couldn't take herself to the toilet.

"She suffered this violence in her own home where she ought to have been able to feel safe and loved and cared for," the prosecutor says.

"The younger children cannot safely have been shielded from the violence that Sara suffered."

Helena Wilkinson and Daniel Sandford
Reporting from the Old Bailey

Warning: This post contains distressing details

Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones KC continues: "This is a murder of a child... especially vulnerable... she was 10 at the time of her death.

"On the evidence she had suffered serious violence from at least the age of six."

He adds: "The violence includes the use of a variety of weapons: a cricket bat, and improvised truncheon made from the leg of a high chair, burns from an electric iron and a scald from burning liquid.

"The violence used was not just excessive but sustained."

Helena Wilkinson and Daniel Sandford
Reporting from the Old Bailey

"We merely invite the court to consider that the seriousness of the murder of Sara is such as to bear comparison with other types of murder [which do get whole life order]," Emyln Jones continues.

The prosecutor then explains there is a non exhaustive list of the types of murder that fall into a whole life term.

"The starting point would be one of 15 years, but given the range and gravity of the aggravating features... 15 years might be rendered somewhat academic," he tells the court.

"This is a case which bristles with aggravating features," he says.

Helena Wilkinson and Daniel Sandford
Reporting from the Old Bailey

Bill Emlyn Jones KC for the prosecution says cases that normally incur whole life orders involve abduction of a child or sexual or sadistic motivation, or murder of a child involving a substantial degree of pre-meditation or planning.

The murder of Sara does not precisely fit in either of those two definitions, he tells the court.

He says as far as pre-meditation is concerned, Sara's murder was not pre-meditated. But he says they submit the violence to Sara was substantially pre-meditated.

Helena Wilkinson and Daniel Sandford
Reporting from the Old Bailey

"Sara was always smiling. She had her own unique character," the statement from Sara's mother says.

"She is now an angel who looks down on us from heaven. She is no longer experiencing violence."

Speaking on the accused, Olga says: "You are sadists. Although even this word is not enough for you. I would say you are executioners."

She added: "I hoped that when she grew up we would meet, but now that won't happen."

Helena Wilkinson and Daniel Sandford
Reporting from the Old Bailey

The judge takes his seat on the bench and the defendants stand and confirm their names.

Bill Emlyn Jones KC for the prosecution then outlines the crown's position on the sentencing.

He reminds the court that Urfan Sharif and Beinash Batool were convicted of the murder of Sara, and that Faisal Malik was acquitted of her murder, but found guilty of causing or allowing her death.

He says Sara's mother Olga Domin is on the link to the hearing and is going to read her statement.

Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from the Old Bailey

Sharif and Malik are both looking down at the floor in the dock. Batool is looking around the courtroom and up to the public gallery.

In the corner of the courtroom there is a camera ready for when the judge will deliver his sentencing remarks later. First we will hear from the prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones KC. We are waiting for the judge to come in.

Daniel Sandford
Reporting from the Old Bailey

We are all ready now for the sentencing. The legal teams for the prosecution and the defence are in court, the three defendants are sitting in the dock, separated by security staff.

Three female jurors have returned for the sentencing having found Urfan Sharif and Beinash Batool guilty of the murder of Sara Sharif on Wednesday.

They also convicted Sara Sharif's Uncle Faisal Malik of causing or allowing the death of a child.

Daniel Sandford
UK correspondent

Image source, Surrey Police

Warning: The page contains distressing details

Post-mortem examinations showed Sara had died from a constellation of injuries and neglect. Her body was covered in bruises, she had a traumatic head injury, human bite marks and multiple broken bones. She had been burned by a domestic iron.

A search of the house and garden revealed - among other things - homemade hoods made of plastic bags and packing tape, as well as a cricket bat with Sara's blood on it.

It was a brutal end to the life of a girl remembered by her former class teacher as spirited, sassy, bubbly, and whose happy place was being on the stage.

Sara had loved playing the guitar and dreamed of being on the X Factor. Her favourite colour was pink, and her favourite food was chicken biryani.

More from Daniel here.

Image source, Surrey Police

Sara Sharif was killed at her home in Woking, Surrey, on 8 August 2023.

She had been subjected to dozens of injuries - including "probable human bite marks", an iron burn and scalding from hot water, a post-mortem examination found.

At the time, Sara had been living with her father, Urfan Sharif, his wife, Beinash Batool, and her uncle, Faisal Malik, as well as her five brother and sisters.

The day after she was killed, on 9 August, the whole family fled to Islamabad, Pakistan.

Urfan Sharif called Surrey Police from Pakistan when he landed, telling them: "I’ve killed my daughter... It wasn’t my intention to kill her, but I beat her up too much."

Surrey Police found Sara's body at the house and launched an international manhunt for the three adults.

Sharif, Batool and Malik eventually flew back voluntarily a month later and were arrested at the airport. Today, over a year later, they will be sentenced.

Image source, Surrey Police

The father and stepmother of 10-year-old Sara Sharif will be sentenced at the Old Bailey later for her murder.

Sara was killed in her home in Woking, Surrey, in August last year after suffering years of torture and violence.

Her father, Urfan Sharif, and his wife, Beinash Batool, were found guilty of murder last week and are now facing life sentences. Batool, 30, cried in the dock as the verdicts were read out last week, while Sharif, 43, remained silent.

Sara's uncle, Faisal Malik, 29, will also be sentenced. He was cleared of murder but found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child - police say he "did nothing to prevent" Sara's death.

The court will first hear from the prosecution and the defence, before the sentences are handed down. We have correspondents down at the Old Bailey, and the judge's sentencing remarks will also be broadcast live, so stay with us.