10-year-old Woking murder victim ‘suffered multiple and extensive injuries’ over an extended period of time
By News Desk
A 10-year-old girl who was found dead at her home in Woking on 10 August, was seen in school with cuts and bruises to her face, a former neighbour told the BBC.
Sara Sharif was classmates with the woman’s daughter, who told her about the injuries.
The suspects, which include Sharif’s father, his brother and his partner, fled to Pakistan before her lifeless body was found.
Post-mortem reports found that the girl sustained “multiple and extensive injuries”.
The individual who previously resided close to where Sharif and her family lived, decided to go by the name Jessica for anonymity. She informed the BBC that the young girl used to be a cheerful and confident, and was always excited to head to school.
However, following her tragic demise, Jessica’s daughter revealed to her that back in April, Sharif had attended St Mary’s primary school in Byfleet, bearing evident injuries.
“Just before the Easter holidays she was in school and had cuts and bruises on her face and her neck,” Jessica told the BBC.
“My daughter had asked what had happened and she said she’d fallen off a bike and then kind of walked away.
“The next day the teacher announced she had left school and she was being home-schooled.”
Around that period, the Sharif family relocated to Woking, which is roughly a 20-minute car ride away.
Jessica stated that she never spotted the youngster attending the school afterward, and residents in Woking also confirmed that they never saw the child heading to school.
Previously, a different neighbour disclosed that Sharif had been taken out of school and was receiving education at her residence.
The individual, who preferred to remain anonymous, informed the BBC that Beinash Batool, Sharif’s father’s partner, had informed her that the decision to homeschool the girl was made due to instances of bullying related to her wearing a hijab.
“I suggested to Beinash that Sara needed to be with children her own age,” the neighbour revealed. “She replied that she was making friends at the mosque and in her swimming lessons.
“Another time I remarked to Beinash that it must be difficult to home school Sara, especially as she had the baby to look after. She said it was very easy as she used BBC Bitesize.”
Detectives investigating the murder of Sara Sharif are continuing to appeal for information to help them piece together a picture of her lifestyle prior to her death.
The renewed appeal has been issued two weeks after the girl’s body was found by officers at her home in Hammond Road, Woking.
Detectives widened the timescale of their investigation after the post-mortem revealed that she had suffered multiple and extensive injuries, likely to have been caused over a sustained and extended period of time.
The initial appeal, which was launched on 18 August, has prompted a number of responses and detectives are reviewing all the information received so far as part of their ongoing enquiries.
However, they are still looking to speak to anyone who knew Sharif, or with any information that could assist the investigation, no matter how insignificant it might seem.
Detective Superintendent Mark Chapman, from the Surrey Police and Sussex Police Major Crime Team, said: “It is now two weeks since Sara’s body was found and the impact of her tragic death continues to be felt deeply by the local and wider community, including our officers and staff.
“We would like to thank those people who have already come forward and reported information to us.
“However, we know that there will be lots of people in the Woking community and beyond who will have had contact with Sara who may not already have come forward, and we would encourage them to do so. Any information is better than no information – although you might think it’s insignificant, it might be vital to the investigation and in helping us to bring justice for Sara.”
If you have information, please report this to us online through our Major Incident Public Portal https://mipp.police.uk/operation/4523K72-PO2
Alternatively, you can report information by calling 101, quoting Operation Unison.
If you do not wish to speak to police, you can call independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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