Two men have been charged with the attempted murder of the father of Sara Sharif in HMP Belmarsh.
Urfan Sharif, 43, and Sara’s stepmother Beinash Batool were sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted at the Old Bailey of killing Sara at their home in Woking, Surrey.
GB News understands the charges relate to an incident in which Sharif was allegedly ambushed in a cell at the category A prison by two inmates armed with the jagged lid of a tuna tin.
Daren Streeter, deputy chief crown prosecutor at CPS London, said: “Our prosecutors have worked closely with the Metropolitan Police to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to court and pursue criminal proceedings.”
The Metropolitan Police previously said officers were probing “an allegation that a prisoner was assaulted at Belmarsh”.
A spokesman added “a 43-year-old suffered non life-threatening injuries”.
The arrest of Sara Sharif’s father Urfan Sharif, 42, at Gatwick Airport in London | PA
The Sun reported that Sharif suffered cuts to his neck and face and received medical treatment inside the prison.
Sharif and Sara’s stepmother, Beinash Batool, were jailed for life in December for years of horrific “torture” and “despicable” abuse that culminated in the 10-year-old’s murder.
The court heard that she suffered “unimaginable pain, misery and anxiety” as she was repeatedly beaten, burned, bitten and restrained at the family home in Woking, Surrey.
Sharif was handed a minimum term of 40 years and Batool was given 33 years.
Sara Sharif died on August 8, 2023 in Woking, Surrey | SURREY POLICE
The full inquest into Sara’s death is set to begin on April 5 2027, a pre-inquest review at Surrey Coroner’s Court heard in January.
The scope of the inquest will be decided during further hearings, and the court was told it could include whether any fear of accusations of racism affected anyone’s response to managing and responding to safeguarding concerns, counsel to the inquest Alison Hewitt said.
Ms Hewitt outlined other areas the inquest may potentially look at including: what investigations could and should have been undertaken; what happened to Sara throughout the four-year period she was with her father and her cause of death.
Meanwhile Batool, who joined the hearing via a video link from prison, asked if she would be able to give evidence in the inquest as a witness.
Police officers in front of Sara’s home in Woking where the tragedy unfolded
|
PAShe said she was aware that it could not overturn her conviction, adding: “My voice was not heard in the criminal trial.”
Senior coroner Richard Travers said: “If it was relevant to my inquiry is the short answer to that.
“If you wanted to put a statement together I certainly wouldn’t stop you.”