Sara Sharif murder case: Father, stepmother sentenced to life imprisonment

London: Father Irfan Sharif and mother Benish Batool have been sentenced to life imprisonment in the Sara Sharif murder case.

According to a global news agency, the sentence was pronounced today after the Old Bailey Crown Court found the father and stepmother guilty in the Sara Sharif murder case.

The verdict said that the 43-year-old father and 30-year-old mother will remain under supervision on license until their death after serving the minimum terms of 40 and 33 years in prison respectively. The court sentenced Sarah Sharif's uncle, 29-year-old Faisal Malik, to 16 years in prison for concealing the crime, remaining silent, aiding, and abetting.

Judge John Kavanagh said that Sarah was tortured in front of the family and uncle Faisal Malik also witnessed. None of you expressed regret, instead kept denying for six days that you did not torture her.

The judge stated that both the mother Benish and the father Faisal remained silent in the trial. There is no guarantee of release even after the minimum sentence has expired. The parole decision will be made after the minimum sentence has expired.

The decision made it clear that Benish and Irfan will remain on license for the rest of their lives after their release from prison. If they violate the license until their death after their release, they will have to go to prison again.

The father of the deceased Sara, Irfan Sharif, and her stepmother Benish Batool were found guilty of the girl's murder. During the hearing, Irfan accepted responsibility for the injuries suffered by Sara.

Earlier this month, the hearing in the Sara Sharif murder case was completed and the jury was to deliver its verdict. The body of 10-year-old Sara was found in her home in Woking on August 10 last year.

The trial of the father, stepmother and uncle in the murder of 10-year-old Sarah Sharif at the Old Bailey has concluded, with the judge asking the jury to give its verdict.

The jury, which consisted of nine women and three men, gave their verdicts separately after considering the case. The High Court judge had instructed the jury to return with a unanimous verdict if possible.