Prisoners Deny Attempted Murder of Father of Murdered Schoolgirl Sara Sharif

Two prisoners have denied attempting to kill Urfan Sharif, the father of 10-year-old Sara Sharif, in a jail cell on New Year's Day 2025. Steven Sansom, 47, and Adam Watson, 39, appeared at the Old Bailey on Wednesday via videolink from Wakefield jail to enter their pleas.

Sansom and Watson pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and wounding Sharif with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. They also denied unauthorized possession of two offensive weapons in prison, identified as a tin lid and a pen attached to a handle.

Prosecutors allege that Sansom invited Sharif into a cell where Watson was waiting. Watson then allegedly punched Sharif multiple times before Sansom applied pressure to his throat. It is further claimed that Watson passed an object to Sansom, which was then used to make cutting motions across Sharif's throat. Prison officers reportedly found Sharif on the floor of the cell, bleeding and with injuries to his face, mouth, and neck.

Judge Lynn Tayton KC scheduled a two-week trial to commence on July 19 of the following year and remanded both defendants into custody. A pre-trial hearing is set for June 21.

Urfan Sharif and Sara's stepmother, Beinash Batool, were previously sentenced in December. Sharif received a minimum sentence of 40 years, and Batool was given 33 years, for years of abuse that culminated in the 10-year-old's death. A judge had ruled that Sara Sharif suffered 'unimaginable pain' during more than two years of abuse and was ultimately tortured to death.