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The father of 10-year-old Sara Sharif and two other relatives will face trial over her death next autumn.
On Tuesday, Urfan Sharif, Sara’s stepmother Beinash Batool and uncle Faisal Malik appeared at the Old Bailey having returned from Pakistan to face charges last week.
All three, who appeared by video link from custody, are charged with murdering Sara and causing or allowing the death of a child.
The Recorder of London, Judge Mark Lucraft KC, set a plea hearing for December 1 and a six-week trial at the Old Bailey from September 2 2024 during the defendants’ brief first Crown Court hearing.
Sharif, 41, Batool, 29, and Malik, 28, spoke only to confirm their identities and dates of birth.
The male defendants were at Belmarsh high security prison in south London and Batool was at Bronzefield jail in Surrey.