A court has been told that Sara Sharif suffered multiple fractures across 25 locations on her body, including an “extremely rare” neck injury that had never been seen before in a child, according to a radiologist. The 10-year-old girl’s skeletal scan revealed ten fractures to her spine, as well as fractures to her clavicle, scapular, ribs, elbow, and hands, among others.
Professor Owen Arthurs, who examined Sara’s body, concluded that the injuries were likely caused by “multiple episodes of blunt force trauma inflicted over several weeks”. It was reported that Sara had more than 70 injuries before she was found dead at her home in Woking, Surrey, last year. These injuries included human bite marks, scalding burns, and skeletal injuries. Her father, Urfan Sharif, her stepmother, Beinash Batool, and her uncle, Faisal Malik, have been charged with her murder and are currently on trial at the Old Bailey.
During the trial, consultant paediatric radiologist Professor Arthurs stated that many of the fractures in Sara’s body were very unusual and could not be explained by accidental mechanisms or a single high-impact trauma event. He specifically mentioned the rarity of a fracture in Sara’s hyoid bone, located at the top of her neck, suggesting it was most likely caused by manual strangulation with a degree of force above what is commonly recognized in ligature strangulation.
The fractures in Sara’s spine were described as typically caused by high-velocity impact or multiple trauma, and it was noted that there was no evidence of underlying bone abnormalities or diseases. The injuries, including the hyoid bone fracture, were estimated to have occurred in the weeks leading up to her death. A post-mortem examination revealed that Sara’s cause of death was “complications arising from multiple injuries and neglect”.
Sara was discovered by police following a call from her father in Pakistan, where he confessed to “beating her up too much”. Traces of the girl’s blood were found on the kitchen floor, a vacuum cleaner, and a cricket bat in the family home. A note allegedly written by Sharif was also found near Sara’s body, stating that he unintentionally caused her death.
The defendants have denied the charges of murder and causing or allowing the death of a child. The trial is ongoing at the Old Bailey as more details emerge about the tragic case.
The shocking details of Sara Sharif’s injuries and the ongoing trial have brought attention to the tragic circumstances surrounding her death. The court proceedings continue to uncover more information about the events leading up to the 10-year-old’s untimely passing.