Beinash Batool, the woman who murdered her stepdaughter Sara Sharif, has requested an inquest into the 10-year-old's death to be conducted before a jury.

The case involves Batool and Sara's father Urfan Sharif, who were jailed for life in 2024 after Sara was found dead at their Woking home following a two-year campaign of abuse.Post-mortem examinations revealed severe injuries including bite marks, an iron burn, and scalds from hot water.

Batool's lawyer argued that a diverse jury would help assess whether Sara's death resulted from systemic failures due to racism fears among services in Surrey.

A review highlighted that local authorities failed to investigate why Sara wore a hijab to conceal bruising, citing concerns about racial sensitivity.Neighbors also hesitated to report issues for fear of being labeled racist.

The eight-week inquest will examine what agencies knew about Sara's safety before her murder, with Surrey County Council apologizing and claiming it took 'robust action' since the 2024 findings.

Batool plans to give evidence at the April 2027 hearing, while Sara's father, without legal representation, faced warnings from the coroner not to challenge evidence.Her uncle Faisal Malik was also jailed for 16 years over her death.