Faisal Malik unaware of Sara Sharif’s abuse, court hears
Malik's barrister questions phone data as trial continues
Faisal Malik, related to the deceased schoolgirl Sara Sharif, may not have known about the abuse she endured at home, possibly due to his commitments at McDonald’s, a court has heard. Malik, 29, resided with Sara, her father Urfan Sharif, and stepmother Beinash Batool at a Woking address where Sara’s body was discovered on 10 August 2023.
Malik, alongside Sara’s father, a 42-year-old cab driver, and Batool, 30, faces charges of murder and causing or allowing the death of a child. The Old Bailey learned that Sara suffered 71 external injuries and was tortured in the days leading to her death.
During the trial, Malik’s barrister, Micheal Ivers, KC, interrogated police officer Greg Robinson about the phone location data linked to Malik. Ivers argued that the data could not conclusively place Malik at home, at McDonald’s, or near the local Co-op at any specific time. Robinson confirmed this, noting that a phone might connect to the same cell site from any of these locations.
"I legally punished her, and she died,"
“It wasn’t my intention to kill her, but I beat her up too much,”
The father of 10-year-old Sara Sharif called police from Pakistan and admitted he killed her at her Surrey home, a court has heard.
Sara's father Urfan, 42, her stepmother… pic.twitter.com/yjLIkAcJPs
— David Challen (@David_Challen) October 14, 2024
Ivers remarked on the difficulty of distinguishing Malik’s exact whereabouts due to the shared cell mast, suggesting this should caution against assuming his presence at the residence. Robinson explained that Malik’s use of the Three network provided less data compared to networks like Vodafone and EE.
Ivers proposed that the jury should consider CCTV footage, Malik’s Co-op card transactions, and his McDonald’s work schedule instead. Malik maintains that, despite living at Hammond Road and juggling work and studies at Portsmouth University, he was unaware of Sara’s mistreatment.
Sara suffered severe injuries, including ten spinal fractures, fractures to her collarbone, shoulder blades, arms, hands, ribs, and hyoid bone. After her death, Sharif, Batool, and Malik left for Pakistan, abandoning her body at the Woking property. They were apprehended at Gatwick Airport on 13 September last year after returning from Dubai.
All three defendants deny the charges of murder and causing or allowing the death of a child. The trial is ongoing.
What Other Media Are Saying
- BBC highlights Nasa’s groundbreaking spacecraft mission to hunt alien life on a distant moon, poised to significantly alter our understanding of life in the solar system.(read more)
- The Guardian highlights Sara Sharif’s severe mistreatment, including being burned, bitten, and homeschooled to conceal injuries, leading to her tragic death in a violent campaign of abuse by her father, stepmother, and uncle.(read more)
- News Sky reports on Sara Sharif’s alleged murder by family members, highlighting her never smiling, wearing a hijab to hide injuries, and being homeschooled amidst family abuse.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Who is Faisal Malik in the Sara Sharif case?
Faisal Malik is related to Sara Sharif and lived with her and her parents.
What charges are Faisal Malik facing?
Malik faces charges of murder and causing or allowing the death of a child.
Did Malik know about the abuse Sara suffered?
Malik claims he was unaware of Sara’s abuse due to his work and study commitments.
What evidence is being questioned in Malik’s trial?
The reliability of phone location data and its ability to place him at specific locations.
What injuries did Sara Sharif suffer?
Sara had 71 external injuries, including fractures to her spine, collarbone, and ribs.
