Beinash Batool, who was jailed for the murder of her 10-year-old stepdaughter Sara Sharif, has formally requested that the inquest into Sara's death be heard by a jury. Her legal representative argued that a diverse local jury would be crucial in determining whether fear of being accused of racism influenced the actions, or inactions, of those responsible for Sara's welfare.
Sara's father, Urfan Sharif, and Batool were both sentenced to life imprisonment in 2024 after the young girl was discovered deceased at the family's Woking home. The court heard harrowing details of a 'campaign of torture' that spanned two years, inflicting dozens of injuries including bite marks, an iron burn, and scalding from hot water, as revealed in a post-mortem examination.
The request for a jury-led inquest follows a review into Sara's death, which highlighted significant failings by services in Surrey. The review concluded that agencies did not adequately investigate why Sara began wearing a hijab, which was later found to have concealed extensive bruising, partly due to a 'fear of causing offence'. Neighbours also expressed concerns about reporting issues, fearing they would be 'branded as being racist'.
Dr. Anton van Dellen, representing Batool, stated on Monday that this case presented a situation where a diverse local jury's perspective would be particularly valuable. The eight-week inquest is set to meticulously examine the extent of knowledge held by state agencies, or what they ought to have known, regarding Sara's safety in the period leading up to her tragic murder. Surrey County Council has previously issued an apology for the events and confirmed it has implemented 'robust action' to address the earlier findings.
Both Urfan Sharif and Beinash Batool attended the preliminary hearing via video link from prison. Urfan Sharif, who did not have legal representation, attempted to criticise evidence his former partner wished to submit, but was cautioned by Senior Coroner for Surrey, Richard Travers. The coroner emphasised that the inquest is not a re-trial and would not revisit findings made by the criminal court. Batool has indicated her intention to give evidence at the inquest, which is not scheduled to commence until April 2027. Sara's uncle, Faisal Malik, was also found guilty of causing or allowing Sara's death and received a 16-year jail sentence.