Daniel Sandford
Reporting from the Old Bailey

This has been a particularly dramatic trial especially when Urfan Sharif changed his evidence in the middle of giving evidence.

It has been a very emotional trial - at times jurors were openly weeping from and at the evidence they were hearing.

The verdicts in the case were no exception.

The judge warned everyone in the courtroom to keep their emotions in check while the verdicts were delivered and people tried to do that.

But Urfan Sharif and Beinash Batool, who were both found guilty of murder, wept in the dock after their verdicts were delivered.

There was a short discussion about when they will be sentenced - which will be next Tuesday - and then the judge simply said: "You can take them down".

It is inevitable they will be given life sentences, the question though is how long the minimum term will be.

Judith Reed from the CPS goes on to say: "We have today secured justice for Sara, but the ultimate tragedy was that she was killed by adults who should have protected her".

She finishes her statement by adding: "Our thoughts today are with Sara's family, and those who knew her."

We are now hearing from Judith Reed from the Crown Prosecution Service who says that everyone involved in this case will remember the "utterly horrendous" injuries Sara sustained in the weeks before her death.

She adds that we "cannot begin to imagine" the suffering she endured in her family home - adding that none of the defendants took steps to stop or report the abuse.

She calls this a "painstaking" operation by Surrey Police and the CPS to be able to prove to the jury that Sara's father and stepmother were responsible.

More now from the detective chief inspector.

He says the murder of a child is always shocking, but "the horrific nature of the abuse Sara suffered during her life has made this case particularly disturbing".

"Today, justice for Sara has been served, and our thoughts remain with Sara's mother and her siblings at this extremely difficult time."

He has now finished speaking, and passes over to the representative from the Crown Prosecution Service.

All three defendants ever sought to do was to protect themselves, Det Ch Insp Emmerson adds.

He says Sara's death was "one of the most difficult cases" that Surrey Police has ever dealt with.

Det Ch Insp Craig Emmerson is currently addressing the media outside the Old Bailey.

He repeats the verdicts that came through today and sends his "deepest condolences" to Sara's mother, Olga, and siblings on behalf of Surrey Police.

He pays tribute to Sara's "spirit", "bravery" and "resilience" that he says shone through, despite everything she suffered.

He adds that Sara's life "was brought to an end as a result of the brutal abuse and unspeakable violence" inflicted on her by Urfan Sharif and Beinash Batool, and which Faisal Malik "did nothing to prevent".

"This case has shocked and horrified not only those who knew and loved her but people across the country and around the world."

The police conference has just begun, as Det Ch Insp Craig Emmerson from Surrey Police and Sussex Police's Major Crime Team are making a statement following the verdicts.

Stay with us as we bring you the latest updates - and press watch live above to follow along.

Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from the Old Bailey

For the first time we’ve heard more about Sara Sharif’s personality and what she was like at school from her headteacher.

Speaking to the BBC, Jacquie Chambers said Sara would “sing to anyone who would listen” and that she dreamt of being on The X Factor.

She was, Chambers says, a “cheerful little soul” and would always help young pupils.

We know that Sara loved playing the guitar and singing. The stage was her happy place.

• You can read more here about Sara Sharif's smiles, songs and dreams of X Factor

The Crown Prosecution Service says this was a "complex case", working with foreign authorities - but they have "today secured justice for Sara".

"None of us can imagine how appalling and brutal Sara’s treatment was in the last few weeks of her short life," says Libby Clark from the CPS in a new statement. "The injuries inflicted on her were absolutely horrendous."

"After Sara died, instead of calling 999, the three defendants immediately made plans to flee the country, thinking only of themselves and not telling police Sara was dead until they had safely landed in Pakistan."

Clark says the CPS built a "strong case" using mobile phone evidence, CCTV sightings and work records showing where Sara's father and stepmother were in the weeks leading up to her murder.

"In a small house with such a big family, it would have been immediately obvious to all the adults what was happening to Sara. Yet none of them took any action to stop it or report it. They all played their part in the violence that led to her tragic death."

Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from court

During the trial, for six days Sara’s father Urfan Sharif denied almost everything.

But on the seventh day he made an extraordinary U-turn. Jurors were left opened mouthed as Sara’s father began dramatically confessing. Trembling, he said he beat his daughter over a number of weeks repeatedly and with force. She died because of me, he said.

Today a jury has found Sharif and Sara's stepmother Beinash Batool guilty of murdering Sara, the confident, chatty little girl who had dreams of one day becoming a ballet dancer.

Image source, Surrey Police

Sara Sharif suffered a “daily living hell” and died from the cumulative effects of violence during many months, the Old Bailey heard during the trial.

Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones KC told the court all three defendants were responsible for the 10-year-old's death, which happened amid a "culture of violence" which was "normalised" in the family household.

In a closing speech, Jones said that despite Beinash Batool and Faisal Malik’s decision not to give evidence, it was a “formidably strong case” against them by “the fact they lived with Sara as she was gradually being beaten to death”.

He said it was “inconceivable” that one of the defendants could have done it without the complicity and encouragement of the others.

None of Sara's injuries were reported or shown to a doctor, and steps were taken to hide the abuse, he added.

• Sara Sharif suffered daily living hell, jury told

Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from court

We are being told that Surrey Police will read a statement outside the Old Bailey in half an hour following the verdicts.

You will be able to follow along by clicking Watch live at the top of this page.

Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from court

The eight-week Old Bailey trial heard disturbing and distressing details about how Sara was brutally treated.

In the pictures we saw of Sara she was always smiling.

But behind it she was being subjected to the most cruel acts. She was beaten, burned and bitten.

During the trial, Urfan Sharif dramatically confessed to beating his daughter.

Beinash Batool refused to provide dental impressions for bite marks that were found on Sara.

There was prosecution evidence too that Sara had homemade hoods placed over her head and that she had been tied up and restrained.

A pathologist told the trial that the cause of death was not specific to a single injury or incident, but it was broad from "complications arising from multiple injuries and neglect”.

Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from court

We are expecting to hear from Surrey Police outside the Old Bailey at some stage, with reaction to the verdicts.

It will be Senior Investigating Officer Det Ch Insp Craig Emmerson from Surrey Police and Sussex Police’s Major Crime Team who will be making the statement.

Image source, Olga Sharif/ Instagram

Sara Sharif was born in Slough on 11 January 2013. Her father, Urfan Sharif, came to the UK from Pakistan to study and went on to marry Sara’s mother, Olga Domin, in Woking in 2009.

The court has previously heard that Sara had been hooded, burned and beaten during more than two years of abuse.

Sharif, his now wife, Beinash Batool, and Sara’s uncle, Faisal Malik, all lived with Sara and her siblings in Woking before her death.

The three travelled to Islamabad, Pakistan, with Sara's five brothers and sisters on 9 August 2023, the day before her body was found at the family home by Surrey Police.

A post-mortem examination found the 10-year-old had sustained "multiple and extensive injuries" before her death.

A previous court hearing was told police found her body after receiving a call from Pakistan on 10 August 2023.

The three adults were arrested on their return to the UK on 13 September.

For rolling reporting on this story, press watch live above - our correspondents are outside court.

Daniel Sandford
Reporting from court

Image source, Surrey Police

The defendants will be sentenced on Tuesday, the judge says.

Daniel Sandford
Reporting from court

"This case above any other has been stressful and traumatic," the judge says.

"In a building where there are many murder trials and emotional cases, this one had been particularly highly charged", he adds.

Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from court

The judge addresses the jury before they leave the court for the last time - he thanks them for the care and attention they have given to this case.

Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from court

Beinash Batool is crying in the dock, as is Faisal Malik. Nothing from Urfan Sharif.