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Sara's dad & stepmum charged with murder after returning to UK from Pakistan

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Sara's dad & stepmum charged with murder after returning to UK from Pakistan
Sara's dad & stepmum charged with murder after returning to UK from Pakistan

SARA Sharif's dad and stepmum have been charged with her murder on their return to the UK from Pakistan.

The charges come a month after the 10-year-old was found dead at her home in Woking, Surrey, on August 10.

'Murdered' schoolgirl Sara Sharif qhidquiqzdiqdkprw
'Murdered' schoolgirl Sara SharifCredit: AFP
Sara's dad Urfan Sharif at Sialkot Airport on Wednesday morning
Sara's dad Urfan Sharif at Sialkot Airport on Wednesday morning
He arrived back in the UK with his partner Beinash Batool
He arrived back in the UK with his partner Beinash Batool
The 10-year-old's dad was escorted off the plane in cuffs
The 10-year-old's dad was escorted off the plane in cuffsCredit: The Sun
The moment cops nabbed Sara's dad at Gatwick airport
The moment cops nabbed Sara's dad at Gatwick airport

Urfan Sharif, 41, his partner Beinash Batool, 29, and his brother Faisal Malik were arrested on suspicion of murder after weeks on the run.

Sharif, Batool, and Malik left Britain with five children, aged between one and 13, the day after Sara's death.

Sara's body was discovered after Sharif called 999 from Pakistan.

Medics have been unable to establish a cause of death, but Woking Coroner's Court was told it was likely to be "unnatural".

A previous post-mortem revealed she suffered “multiple and extensive injuries which are likely to have been caused over a sustained and extended period of time”.

On Wednesday morning Urfan and Beinash travelled on an Emirates flight from Sialkot in the Punjab province to Dubai.

That night, cops met the couple in Gatwick airport as their plane touched down.

Footage showed officers entering the plane as police vans waited on the tarmac below.

Now, all three have been charged with murder and causing or allowing the death of a child.

They will appear in Guildford Magistrate’s Court today.

A Surrey police spokesman said: "Three people have been charged with the murder of 10-year-old Sara Sharif, whose body was found at her home address in Woking on 10 August.

"The Crown Prosecution Service has today (15 September), authorised charges against three people, including Sara’s father, Urfan Sharif, 41, Urfan’s partner, Beinash Batool, 29, and Urfan’s brother, Faisal Malik, 28.

"They have also been charged with causing or allowing the death of a child.

"All three have been remanded in custody to appear at Guildford Magistrate’s Court later today.

"Sara’s mother has been informed of this latest development and is being supported by specialist officers."

Sara's heartbroken mum Olga told the Sun the arrests were a "weight lifted" off her shoulders.

She added: "I am very happy that the police have made arrests.

“It is a huge relief and something I didn’t think would happen this quickly.

“I feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders but there is still a long way to go before I feel closure."

It comes after Interpol launched an international manhunt for the trio as police in Pakistan worked with cops in the UK.

Surrey Police said on Tuesday it was working to secure the safe return of Sara's five siblings from Pakistan after a court ruled they'd be moved to a government childcare facility.

Sara's grandfather Muhammad Sharif said he had been hiding the children in his home, but did not specify for how long.

A video emerged last week of Sharif and Batool reading a statement together about the horror.

Batool said her family "are willing to cooperate with the UK authorities and fight our case in court" - but moaned about the conditions they are living under.

Batool also said her family had gone into hiding as "everyone is scared for their safety".

She added: "The kids are unable to attend school as they're afraid to leave the house. No one is leaving the house.

"The groceries have run out and there is no food for the kids as the adults are unable to leave their homes out of fear for safety."

Urfan's brother Faisal Malik passing through passport control
Urfan's brother Faisal Malik passing through passport control
Her dad Urfan Sharif has returned to the UK
Her dad Urfan Sharif has returned to the UKCredit: AFP
His partner Beinash Batool returned with him
His partner Beinash Batool returned with himCredit: AFP
Sara's dad and stepmum appeared in a video shared online last week
Sara's dad and stepmum appeared in a video shared online last weekCredit: Sky News
Sara's mum Olga shared photos of the ten-year-old
Sara's mum Olga shared photos of the ten-year-oldCredit: Collect
Olga has demanded answers from her ex-husband over their daughter's death
Olga has demanded answers from her ex-husband over their daughter's deathCredit: Collect

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