School pays tribute to ‘bubbly, confident’ Sara Sharif, 10, as police search for dad in murder probe

A school headteacher has paid tribute to a 10-year-old girl found dead at her home near Woking.

Sara Sharif was found dead at her home on 10 August after police were called to the property.

Her father, Urfan Sharif, 41, his partner, Beinash Batool, 29, and his brother, Faisal Malik, 28 – all of whom police would like to speak with in connection with the death – are thought to have travelled to Pakistan‘s capital, Islamabad, on 9 August.

A post-mortem examination showed Sara had suffered extensive injuries over a sustained period before she was found, but a cause of death was not established.

Jacquie Chambers, headteacher of St Mary’s C of E primary school in Byfleet – where Sara had been a Year 5 pupil – said she would be “dearly missed” by pupils and teachers.

In a statement, she said: “[Sara] was a bubbly, confident little girl who had the most beautiful smile. She was full of ideas and was very passionate about the things she believed in.”

Ms Chambers added: “Sara will be dearly missed and, as a school community, we are all deeply affected by this tragedy.

“Our thoughts, prayers and sympathy are with those affected by this heartbreaking news.”

She said St Mary’s C of E was “fully supporting partner agencies with their investigations”, before adding their current priority was “to support our school community as they grieve and recover”.

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Surrey County Council on Sunday said Sara was known to them, with council leader Tim Oliver, saying it was “working tirelessly with our safeguarding partners to gain a full understanding of the situation as quickly as possible”.

The National Child Safeguarding Panel had been notified and a multi-agency rapid review had been launched, Mr Oliver said.

“This is an incredibly sad situation, and our thoughts and deepest condolences are with everyone affected,” he said.

“This rapid review will determine whether a Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review (LCSPR) is to be undertaken by the Surrey Safeguarding Children Partnership.

“A Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review is a statutory process, bringing together partners including the police, health, social care and education to review practice of all agencies involved, organisational structures and learning.”

On Saturday, police in Pakistan said they were searching for Mr Sharif, who is believed to have been in the Punjab province.

Surrey Police said “enquiries remain ongoing to locate them and we are continuing to work with international agencies, including Interpol, the National Crime Agency and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to progress our enquiries with the Pakistani authorities”.

Pakistan does not have an extradition treaty with the UK and it is not common for people to face extradition for questioning.

Detective Superintendent Mark Chapman, from the Surrey Police and Sussex Police major crime team, said last week: “While the post-mortem has not provided us with an established cause of death at this time, the fact that we now know that Sara had suffered multiple and extensive injuries over a sustained and extended period has significantly changed the nature of our investigation, and we have widened the timescale of the focus of our enquiry.

“As a result, we are trying to piece together a picture of Sara’s lifestyle but we cannot do this without the public’s help.

“That is why we are appealing for anyone who knew Sara, had any form of contact with her, or has any other information about her, no matter how insignificant it might seem, to come forward as soon as possible.”

Det Supt Chapman said: “In the meantime, I would like to reassure you that we are doing everything possible, including working with our partners and international agencies, to ensure that those responsible for Sara’s tragic and untimely death are brought to justice.”