‘She died because of me’ – five words that changed the Sara Sharif trial

It was the seventh day of his evidence when everything changed.

Sharif was being questioned about missing the birth of one of his children. He started trying to interrupt her, while she persisted in trying to get him to answer the questions.

Eventually he managed to get it out. “I want to say something.”

“I admit what I said in my phone call and my written note, every single word.”

There was a pause as everyone took in what he had just said.

Then Ms Carberry KC ran with it, grabbing a copy of the note that he had left by his daughter’s body. She started to go through it line by line.

“Did you kill your daughter by beating?” “Yes,” he replied. “She died because of me.”

“It was you who inflicted those injuries on her wasn’t it?” “Yes,” he said.

“Do you accept causing the fractures?” “Yes ma’am.” “Did you use the cricket bat?” “Yes ma’am.” “Did you use the white metal pole?” “Yes ma’am.”

Surprise turned to shock and shock turned to horror, as he agreed to more and more cruel acts. Some jurors sat open-mouthed.

“I take full responsibility for everything,” he said.

He was shaking and crying. Batool was sobbing in the dock.

Even Sharif’s barrister was taken by complete surprise. “I had absolutely no idea he was going to do that. You can imagine my reaction when it did happen?” he would later tell the jury.

Eventually Batool ran out of court sobbing and the hearing was suspended. Some jurors were later seen in tears.

Sharif continued to deny causing the burn and bite marks on Sara.

Ms Carberry KC asked Sharif if he wanted to have the charge of murder put to him again.

“Yes ma’am,” he said, before his barrister intervened and asked to speak to him.

When the court reconvened Sharif said he did not accept he was guilty of murder. “I didn’t intend to kill her,” he said.