In a devastating case that has shaken the nation, the inquest into the death of 10-year-old Sara Sharif will not take place until 2027, a coroner has announced. Sara’s father, Urfan Sharif, and stepmother, Beinash Batool, were sentenced to life in prison in December 2024 for murdering the young girl, whose body was discovered at the family home in Woking, Surrey, in August 2023.
The child’s harrowing story has been marked by a series of failures by the authorities tasked with protecting her. A post-mortem examination revealed that Sara had endured a “campaign of torture” that lasted two years, with her body bearing the scars of horrific abuse, including bite marks, iron burns, and scalding from hot water.
Despite the clear signs of mistreatment, the system failed to identify the risk to Sara’s safety and did not question the unexplained bruising on her body, even when she began wearing a hijab to cover them up “for fear of causing offence.” A review found that Surrey County Council had attempted to check on Sara the day before her murder, but visited the wrong house, a tragic oversight that ultimately cost the young girl her life.
In a heartbreaking twist, Sara had dreams of becoming a singer and had a passion for playing the guitar, hoping to one day appear on The X Factor. Her mother, Olga Domin, and her representatives will now have the right to ask questions during the delayed inquest, which is set to examine a range of issues, including the decisions made by children’s services and the role of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service.
The inquest, scheduled for April 2027, will provide an opportunity to uncover the full extent of the failures that led to Sara’s untimely death and to ensure that such tragedies do not occur again. As the nation grapples with the devastating loss of this young life, the case serves as a sobering reminder of the urgent need to strengthen the systems designed to protect the most vulnerable members of our society.
