I've lied and been selfish, says Sara Sharif's father

Sara Sharif's father has admitted being "selfish" and a "bad father" by lying to protect himself over the death of his 10-year-old daughter.

- Matthew Weaver

He told a court yesterday that his previous lies about what happened meant he had no credibility, now he had accepted responsibility for her death. It came a day after Sharif dramatically said he took "full responsibility" for Sara's death and admitted beating her with a cricket bat and a metal pole.

Sharif, 42, his wife, Beinash Batool, 30, and his brother Faisal Malik, 29, are on trial at the Old Bailey in London, accused of carrying out a violent "campaign of abuse" before Sara was found dead in a bunk bed at the family home in Woking, Surrey, on 10 August 2023.

They are accused of killing Sara on 8 August before fleeing to Pakistan. The family returned from Pakistan a month later and were arrested at Gatwick airport. Sharif, a taxi driver, was asked by Michael Ivers KC, representing Malik, about why he returned from Pakistan.

Ivers asked: "You were originally saying you came back to lie to protect [a member of the family] and then you've come back and told a pack of lies to protect yourself."

Sharif replied: "I've been selfish."

Ivers reminded Sharif that before saying he had been responsible for Sara's death, he had blamed his wife for the girl's death for six days in the witness box.