Sara Sharif’s father says stepmother was ‘true villain’ as he denies murder

Urfan Sharif, 42, was arrested at Gatwick airport in London on his return from Pakistan in September. Photograph: Surrey Police/PA

The father of Sara Sharif denied killing his daughter as he claimed the 10-year-old’s stepmother was the “true villain of the piece”, a court was told.

Urfan Sharif tried to save his “limp” daughter and begged for an ambulance, only to be told: “Leave it; she’s dead,” jurors heard.

Sharif wept as he described Sara as a “beautiful angel” and denied abusing her, saying: “I did slap her; I never beat her … I have lot of flaws. I’m not even an average father. I never beat her any of the time. Never.”