Sara Sharif died as a result of “complications from multiple injuries and neglect,” a pathologist said.
The schoolgirl had suffered two traumatic injuries in the days before her death, as well as 71 recent injuries, including bruises, skin abrasions, skin wounds consistent with burns and possible bite marks.
On the third day of her murder trial on Wednesday, jurors were shown graphics outlining a series of injuries found on the 10-year-old’s body.
The Old Bailey previously heard that her head was covered in “homemade hoods” made from plastic bags and packing tape in the weeks before her death.
Fingerprints allegedly belonging to the schoolgirl’s father, Urfan Sharif, were found on one of the bags and a bit of packing tape.
Earlier, The Old Bailey heard that neighbor Chloe Redwin, who used to live above the family at a previous address in 2020, would hear “shockingly loud” sounds of “smack” coming from their home followed by “gut-wrenching screams”.
Surrey Police discovered Sara dead in a bedroom at her home in Woking on August 10 last year.
Urfan Sharif, 42, owns his murder to Mr. Justice Cavanagh with Sara’s stepmother Beinash Batool, 30, and her uncle Faisal Malik, 29.
Sara died of ‘complications from multiple injuries and neglect’
When he read his conclusions, Dr. Cary gave Sara’s cause of death as “complications from multiple injuries and neglect” and described it as “unnatural”.
He said the findings were consistent with “significant and repeated blunt force trauma” and did not rule out the possibility that Sara’s burns contributed to her death through sepsis.
Earlier, jurors heard that Sara had suffered “probable human bite marks”, an iron burn and scalding from hot water.
Traces of the 10-year-old’s blood were found on the kitchen floor, a vacuum cleaner and a cricket bat following a police search of the family’s home, prosecutors said.
The defendants, of Hammond Road, Woking, have denied murder and causing or allowing the death of a child between 16 December 2022 and 9 August 2023.
Holly Evans17 October 2024 02:00
Police bodycam footage from the night Sara Sharif’s body was discovered
Holly Evans17 October 2024 at 00:00
No natural illnesses or drugs had contributed to Sara’s death
Dr. Cary presented his findings from an autopsy on Sara’s body that he performed on August 15, 2023, which took about three hours.
Sara was 1.37 meters tall and weighed 27 kilos, with both measurements within the average bracket for a child her age but towards the lower end, the court heard.
The court heard that no natural illnesses or drugs had contributed to Sara’s death.
Among the older injuries were “spotted scarring” on the left jawline, several purple scars around the pelvis, marks from the lower left leg to the top of the foot, and fine scars and spotted brown discoloration on the left forearm.
Recent injuries were identified across all parts of Sara’s body, including on her face, fingers, ankles and back.
Holly Evans16 October 2024 at 10 p.m.
The key moments in Sara Sharif’s tragic death
Ten-year-old Sara Sharif died after an alleged “campaign of abuse” in the home she shared with her father, stepmother and uncle.
Taxi driver Urfan Sharif, 42, is on trial at the Old Bailey accused of murdering his daughter along with Sara’s stepmother, Beinash Batool, 30, and uncle, Faisal Malik, 29.
Police found Sara’s body in a bunk bed at her home in Woking, Surrey, on August 10 last year after a call from Sharif in Pakistan who said he “beat her too much” for being “naughty”, the court heard .
Read the entire article here:
Holly Evans16 October 2024 at 21.00.
Listen: Sara Sharif’s father tells 999 operator he killed daughter
Holly Evans16 October 2024 at 19.00.
How did this happen to Sara Sharif? What we know about the events that led to the schoolgirl’s death
Taxi driver Urfan Sharif, 42, is on trial at the Old Bailey accused of murdering his 10-year-old daughter, along with Sara’s stepmother Beinash Batool, 30, and uncle, Faisal Malik, 29. All three deny murder and the defense is yet to appear. fit its case.
Read the entire article here:
Holly Evans16 October 2024 at 18.00.
What did the court hear on Wednesday?
On the third day of the trial at the Old Bailey, jurors heard:
- Sara Sharif had suffered more than 70 injuries shortly before she was found dead
- A pathologist gave her cause of death as “complications from multiple injuries and neglect”.
- No natural illnesses or drugs had contributed to her death, which was described as “unnatural”.
- Older injuries included scarring on her left jawline, scars around her pelvis, a puncture wound to her forehead, and marks from her lower left leg to the top of her foot.
- Bruising on her leg was likely caused by “multiple blows with a linear object”, probably an object used as a weapon.
- Traces of the 10-year-old’s blood were found on the kitchen floor, a vacuum cleaner and a cricket bat
Holly Evans16 October 2024 at 17.00.
The pathologist ‘cannot rule out’ the possibility that burns contributed to the death, the court was told
The pathologist noted that he “could not rule out” the possibility that burns contributed to Sara’s death through sepsis.
Dr. Cary said there was a chance infection could have entered her bloodstream and caused generalized collapse.
The schoolgirl had suffered at least 71 injuries in the days before her death, including a number of skin wounds consistent with burns. There was a large area of ​​lacerations on Sara’s buttocks, the court heard, while there were two areas of lacerations above her ankle bones.
The jury previously heard that Sara had suffered “probable human bite marks”, an iron burn and scalding from hot water.
The defendants deny murder and causing or allowing the death of a child.
Amy-Clare Martin16 October 2024 at 16.34.
The schoolgirl had a ‘gaping’ head injury, the court was told
A “gaping” head wound was among 71 injuries found on Sara Sharif’s body by a forensic pathologist.
Dr. Cary, who carried out a three-hour post-mortem on August 15, 2023 last year, told jurors she suffered a puncture wound to the forehead which was “sharp or semi-sharp” and had become “gaping”.
Other recent injuries were identified across all parts of Sara’s body, including on her face, fingers, ankles and back. She was 4ft 6 and weighed 4 stone 3lbs.
He also identified several scars on her body, including “spotted scarring” on the left jaw line, several purple scars around the pelvis, marks from the lower left leg to the top of the foot, and fine scars and spotted brown discoloration on the left forearm.
The court heard that no natural illnesses or drugs had contributed to Sara’s death.
Amy-Clare Martin16 October 2024 at 16.07.
Sara Sharif’s death was caused by multiple injuries and neglect, the court was told
Pathologist Dr. Cary concluded the 10-year-old died of complications from multiple injuries and neglect, the court heard.
Her death was described as “cumulative” rather than being attributed to a specific injury or incident.
However, the pathologist said she could have gradually succumbed to two traumatic brain injuries she sustained two to five days earlier if left unattended.
In his conclusions, he noted “widespread” damage to the surface of the skin, including puncture wounds, bruising and internal damage to the abdomen.
“These findings are consistent with significant and repeated blunt force trauma,” he told the Old Bailey, adding that the pattern of injuries is consistent with the use of an “instrument”.
Amy Clare-Martin16 October 2024 at 15.41.