The father of Sara Sharif should have been given a whole life order for his daughter's murder, the Court of Appeal has been told.
Urfan Sharif, 43, and Sara's stepmother Beinash Batool, 30, were jailed for life in December, with minimum terms of 40 and 33 years respectively, after being found guilty of the 10-year-old's murder.
Sara's uncle, Faisal Malik, 29, was found guilty of causing or allowing her death and was jailed for 16 years.
All three are seeking leave to appeal their sentences, but the Solicitor General wants Sharif's sentence increased.
At a hearing to consider all aspects of the sentences,
Tom Little KC, for the Solicitor General, said Sara's murder was a rare case of such "exceptionally high seriousness" that it warranted a whole life order for Sharif.
Judges at the Court of Appeal are hearing the application on behalf of Lucy Rigby KC MP, who said Sharif's sentence of a minimum of 40 years was "unduly lenient".
Sara Sharif was hooded, burned and beaten during two years of abuse before her body was found.
www.bbc.co.uk
Tom Little is busy today ! ( also currently Prosecuting at second trial of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon )