
Solicitor General Demands Review of Urfan Sharif’s Lenient Sentence for Murder of Daughter
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The Solicitor General has described the prison sentence given to child murderer Urfan Sharif as “unduly lenient” and has requested a review of his conviction. Sharif, 42, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 40 years in December 2023 for the horrific murder of his 10-year-old daughter, Sara, who endured “unimaginable pain, misery, and anxiety” leading up to her tragic death.
Sara was found dead in August 2023 in a bunk bed at her home in Woking, Surrey, after Sharif, who had fled to Pakistan, called the police to confess he had “beaten her too much.” The extent of Sara’s injuries was shocking: she had suffered 71 fresh injuries, including 25 broken bones, burns from an iron, scalding marks on her feet, and human bite marks. These injuries were the result of years of neglect, frequent assaults, and what the judge described as “torture,” according to Mr. Justice Cavanagh during Sharif’s sentencing.
The Solicitor General, Lucy Rigby MP, has now referred Sharif’s sentence to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme, arguing that the punishment may not be sufficient given the brutality of his crime. The Court of Appeal will now decide whether Sharif’s sentence should be increased, reported by Metro.

This request comes as Sharif, along with Sara’s stepmother, Beinash Batool, and her uncle, Faisal Malik, all seek to appeal their convictions. Batool, 30, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 33 years after being convicted of murdering Sara. Malik, 29, was sentenced to 16 years for causing or allowing the death of a child.
A spokesperson for the Attorney General’s office confirmed the referral, stating: “The Solicitor General Lucy Rigby MP has referred Urfan Sharif’s sentence to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. It is now for the court to decide whether to increase the sentence.”
Sharif has faced further difficulties since his imprisonment, including a reported attack by two fellow inmates on New Year’s Day, where he was reportedly slashed across the throat with a tuna can lid.
During his sentencing, Mr. Justice Cavanagh harshly criticized Sharif, stating: “You treated her in such a way because you considered it your right to impose harsh discipline on her.” He described Sara as “brave, feisty, and spirited,” and accused Sharif of taking advantage of his power over her and the family to boost his own ego.
The judge also directed strong words towards Batool, stating that she “did not care about Sara enough to save her,” and dismissed Malik’s defense, calling his claim of being distracted by his phone “preposterous.”