Surrey: Video shows arrests of Sara Sharif murder accused

Moment Sara Sharif’s family are detained at Gatwick Airport

Footage showing the moment police boarded a plane and detained Sara Sharif’s alleged killers as they arrived back in the UK has been shown to jurors.

The three relatives of Sara had travelled to Pakistan on 9 August 2023, the day after she died at the family home in Woking, Surrey.

As police approached their seats on board an Emirates flight when they returned on 13 September, Sara’s stepmother Beinash Batool can be seen raising her hand, saying: “I think they’re looking for us.”

Ms Batool, 30, Sara’s father, Urfan Sharif, 42, and her uncle, Faisal Malik, 29, deny murder and causing or allowing the death of a child at their trial at the Old Bailey.

Surrey Police Image of Sara Sharif wearing a green topSurrey Police

Sara Sharif’s body was found with multiple injuries

Sara’s body was discovered in a bunkbed at her home on 10 August 2023.

Jurors previously heard she had been hooded, burned, bitten and beaten during more than two years of abuse.

The video shows a number of officers with police identification on their backs boarding the plane from Dubai seven minutes after it had landed at Gatwick Airport.

When officers approached Mr Sharif they asked him if he had a bag with him. He said he didn’t.

He was then handcuffed on the plane.

The footage then shows Mr Sharif standing by a police van, where he was arrested on suspicion of the murder of his daughter.

The video also shows Mr Malik and Ms Batool being arrested off the plane on suspicion of the murder.

Surrey Police Urfan Sharif, Beinash Batool and Faisal Malik. The two men have dark, slicked back hair. One has a thick, dark beard and the other has stubble. Ms Batool has long, black hair, is looking at the camera and is wearing a green and orange shirtSurrey Police

Urfan Sharif, Beinash Batool and Faisal Malik are each facing two charges relating to the death of Sara Sharif

All three accused were interviewed separately by police the day after they were held. They all made no comment to questions asked by officers.

The jury also heard on Friday how social services decided not to take any further action despite a referral from Sara’s school after bruises were spotted on the girl months before she died.

The trial at the Old Bailey continues.

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