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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Emine Sinmaz

Ban on naming Sara Sharif care case judges would have ‘corrosive impact’, court told

Sara Sharif at school: she is smiling and holds up a sheet of paper with handwriting on it. She has large brown eyes and is wearing her long dark hair tied back.
Sara Sharif, 10, was murdered by her father and stepmother in August 2023. There had been three sets of family court proceedings related to her care. Photograph: Surrey Police/AFP/Getty Images

A unprecedented ban on naming judges who oversaw proceedings related to the care of Sara Sharif before she was murdered is likely to have a “corrosive impact” on public confidence in the justice system, the court of appeal has been told.

Mr Justice Williams ruled in December that the media could not name three judges who oversaw three sets of family court proceedings relating to the 10-year-old schoolgirl over concerns they would be subject to a “virtual lynch mob”. He also said he did not believe the media could be trusted to report matters in a fair, accurate and responsible way.

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