Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Teacher noticed bruises on Sara Sharif’s face, court hears

Sara's father, Urfan Sharif, 42, stepmother, Beinash Batool, 30, and uncle, Faisal Malik, 29, deny the charges of murder and are currently on trial.

Teacher noticed bruises on Sara Sharif’s face, court hears

A TEACHER at Sara Sharif’s school observed bruises on the 10-year-old’s face five months before her death, the Old Bailey court heard.

Helen Simmons, who taught Sara in Year 4 and Year 5, testified that in March 2023, Sara explained her injuries by saying she “had fallen over on some roller-skates,” the BBC reported.


Sara’s body was discovered in her family’s home in Woking, Surrey, in August 2023, with multiple injuries. Her father, Urfan Sharif, 42, stepmother, Beinash Batool, 30, and uncle, Faisal Malik, 29, deny the charges of murder and are currently on trial.

Simmons recalled observing a bruise on Sara’s chin and cheek and mentioned that the school, St Mary’s Primary in West Byfleet, had referred the case to Social Services after Sara’s inconsistent accounts of her injuries.

She described a later incident when Batool approached her and claimed a bruise on Sara’s face was from “a pen,” adding defensively, “Before I jumped to conclusions again, it was just a pen.”

Simmons also noted that Sara had been taken out of school twice for home-schooling, first in June 2022 and later in April 2023, with her family citing concerns over her academic progress and friendships, according to the BBC.

The court was previously informed that Sara suffered abuse over two years. Jurors heard that Batool allegedly swore at Sara’s siblings, and a witness reported seeing her drag the children.

The defendants were arrested after travelling to Pakistan in August 2023, the day before Sara’s body was discovered.

They also face charges of causing or allowing the death of a child, which they deny.

More For You

Air India

The airline said the aircraft landed safely and was being inspected 'as a matter of abundant precaution'.

Getty

Delhi-bound Air India Dreamliner returns to Hong Kong mid-air due to technical issue

AN AIR INDIA Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner flying from Hong Kong to New Delhi returned to Hong Kong shortly after takeoff on Monday due to a suspected technical issue.

This incident comes days after an Air India flight to London, also a Boeing 787-8, crashed in Ahmedabad just after takeoff, killing 241 of the 242 people on board.

Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer-Getty

Starmer said earlier on Sunday that he had dropped his initial opposition to a national inquiry in favour of one being led by Louise Casey, a member of the parliament’s upper house. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Police crackdown on grooming gangs following national inquiry announcement

AUTHORITIES have announced a nationwide police operation targeting grooming gangs suspected of sexually exploiting thousands of girls and young women over several decades.

The announcement came hours after prime minister Keir Starmer said a national inquiry would be launched into the scandal, which recently drew attention from Elon Musk.

Keep ReadingShow less
british-airways

The airline did not provide details on the departure time, number of passengers or crew on board, or how long the flight was in the air before returning. (Representational image: Getty Images)

Getty Images

British Airways Chennai flight returns to London mid-air due to technical issue

A BRITISH AIRWAYS flight bound for Chennai returned to London mid-air on Sunday after reporting a technical issue.

The airline said the aircraft landed safely and passengers and crew disembarked normally. “The aircraft returned to Heathrow as a standard precaution after reports of a technical issue,” British Airways said in a statement.

Keep ReadingShow less
Siddhashram leads interfaith tribute to Ahmedabad plane crash victims

Gareth Thomas MP

Siddhashram leads interfaith tribute to Ahmedabad plane crash victims

Mahesh Liloriya

In the wake of the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, London came together in an emotional outpouring of grief and unity at the Siddhashram Shakti Centre in Harrow. Over two solemn days, the revered spiritual haven hosted a series of powerful ceremonies led by His Holiness Rajrajeshwar Guruji, drawing together faith leaders, public figures, and residents from across communities.

On the day of the tragedy, Guruji led a spiritually charged recitation of the Hanuman Chalisa 12 times, joined by a team of spiritual practitioners from India. The prayer created a deep atmosphere of collective mourning and healing.

Keep ReadingShow less