Sara Sharif's father cries in court and says he regrets abandoning her 'like an orphan' after 10-year-old's death

The father of Sara Sharif wept in court saying he curses himself for going on the run abandoning his daughter 'like an orphan' after her alleged murder.

Urfan Sharif accepted he had called 999 from Pakistan to admit killing the 10-year-old, but he claimed yesterday it was a false confession 'to protect his family'.

The 42-year-old said he had lied to police and his wife's family: 'I told them I'm responsible for Sara's death.'

Naeem Mian, KC, defending, asked: 'Why did you say that you were responsible for Sara's death?'

Sharif replied: 'To protect my family.'

Today the defendant told jurors he 'was not at home' that day and couldn't have been responsible for her alleged murder on August 8 last year.

When asked why he rang police two days later in an 'emotional state' after fleeing the country, Sharif said: 'I was cursing myself for leaving my daughter, I was cursing myself for abandoning my daughter like an orphan and she has no one else.'

The Old Bailey heard that Sharif had previously complained Sara was making his 'life hell' 18 months before her death.

He allegedly messaged his wife Beinash Batool, 30, threatening her and Sara, saying: 'I'm losing my calm. Both of you make hell of people who care and love you. I'm done with you and now it will be her turn if she does anything silly.'

But Sharif insisted today that he only intended to talk to Sara about her 'silly' behaviour when he sent the message in February 2022.

He said he was unaware his wife had bought 12 rolls of parcel tape allegedly to construct home-made hoods, taping plastic bags around the victim's face.

Sharif broke down in tears as he was asked whether he loved his daughter, sobbing: 'Yes I did, she was my daughter.'

The defendant was asked about messages Batool sent to her sisters alleging that Sharif had beaten Sara up 'like crazy' for at least two years, including waking the schoolgirl in the middle of the night to attack her.

But Sharif said it was 'not true'.

He added: 'Everything happened at home while I was at work. I did not beat her, do anything to her.'

Following Sharif's 999 call, police raced to his home in Woking, Surrey on August 10 where Sara was found dead having suffered at least 71 external injuries, including dozens of broken bones.

Today Sharif suggested his wife was 'possessed' by a 'black magic' spell.

He told jurors that Batool was 'very, very crazy', claiming he was forced to jump out of windows to escape her.

Batool wept in the dock as Sharif suggested her own relatives believed she was crazy, adding: 'Her family said she is possessed [like] someone has done black magic on her.'

Jurors were shown two video clips from Sharif which he claimed was evidence of her abusive behaviour.

He said: 'I used to jump through the kitchen window as she would lock the front door.

'Most of the time when she was angry I jumped through the living room window.'

But later the court heard that Sharif loved his wife so much that he spent £7,500 on gold jewellery for her.

Sharif, Batool, and Sara's uncle Faisal Malik, 29, denies murder and causing or allowing the death of a child.

The trial continues.