A judge previously criticized for a flawed ruling allowed Sara Sharif to live with her father, who later murdered her.
Woking: A judge allowed Sara Sharif to live with her father, Urfan Sharif. This decision led to her tragic murder. The judge faced criticism for a previous case involving another child.
Judge Alison Raeside, along with Judges Peter Nathan and Sally Williams, was involved in Sara’s family court proceedings. These took place from 2013 to 2019. A recent ruling allowed the media to identify the judges after a ban was overturned.
Sara’s father and stepmother were sentenced to life in prison for her murder. They received minimum terms of 40 and 33 years, respectively. Her uncle was jailed for 16 years for his role in her death.
Sara died in the summer of 2023 after suffering severe abuse. She had 70 injuries, including fractures and burns. The court had previously placed her in a home where this abuse occurred.
In December, a judge ruled that the media could not identify the judges involved in Sara’s case. He cited concerns for their safety. However, this ruling faced challenges from media organizations seeking transparency.
Judge Raeside’s past conduct was criticized in a separate case. A High Court judge raised serious concerns about her fairness and transparency. Despite this, he believed she was trying to do her best for the child involved.
Judge Raeside handled most of Sara’s proceedings. The first set of hearings revealed concerns about Sara’s parents’ care of her siblings. The judge approved supervision orders, allowing the children to stay with their parents.
In 2014, after an injury was found on one of the siblings, all three children were taken into police protection. Sara’s mother later accepted a caution for assault.
Despite ongoing concerns, the council believed the risks could be managed. In 2015, Sara was returned to her mother’s care with supervised contact with her father.
In 2019, Sara was moved to the home where she was later murdered. This decision was based on unproven allegations of abuse against her mother.
A social worker assessed that Urfan and his wife could meet Sara’s needs. This assessment was supported by Sara’s parents and the children’s guardian, leading to Judge Raeside’s approval.
