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Sara Sharif Inquest Delayed to 2027
16 Jan
Summary
- Sara Sharif's inquest is postponed until April 2027.
- Her father and stepmother were jailed for life for her murder.
- The inquest will examine the handling of risks to Sara's life.
The inquest into the tragic death of 10-year-old Sara Sharif has been scheduled for April 5, 2027. This decision was announced by Senior Coroner for Surrey, Richard Travers, at a recent pre-inquest review. Sara's father, Urfan Sharif, and her stepmother, Beinash Batool, are currently serving life sentences after being convicted of her murder in December 2024.
Batool has expressed a desire to give evidence at the inquest, stating her voice was not heard during the criminal trial, though the coroner noted her testimony must be relevant. The scope of the inquest is still under discussion, potentially covering issues such as the management of risks to Sara from birth, decisions regarding her placement with her father in 2019, and the handling of injuries reported by her school.
Previous reviews indicated systemic failures, including a missed welfare check visit to the wrong address the day before Sara's murder. Surrey County Council has apologized for these failures, which included not questioning unexplained bruising and stopping monitoring. The review concluded that authorities missed opportunities to protect Sara, ultimately failing to keep her safe.
