The mother of murdered 10-year-old Sara Sharif has publicly condemned Surrey County Council, stating it acted 'too little, too late' to save her daughter after years of sustained abuse. Sara was found dead in a bunk bed at her family home in Woking, Surrey, in August 2023, having endured what was described in court as 'horrific abuse'.
A Lethal Combination and a Devastating Outcome
Sara's father, Urfan Sharif, and stepmother, Beinash Batool, were sentenced to life in prison in December last year, with minimum terms of 40 and 33 years respectively for her murder. Sara's uncle, Faisal Malik, was found guilty of causing or allowing her death and jailed for 16 years.
A safeguarding review published by the Children's Commissioner and Education Secretary concluded that Sara's death was preventable, highlighting a series of catastrophic failures by authorities. Speaking to The Times, Sara's mother, Olga Domin, said her daughter would still be alive if the risks posed by her father had been properly identified.
Olga, who had shared parental responsibility before custody was transferred to Sharif, claimed she was 'never contacted' about her daughter's wellbeing and felt 'voiceless'. She revealed the tragic detail that she could barely recognise her daughter's body due to the extent of her injuries, which included multiple fractures, burns, and bite marks.
A Cascade of Missed Opportunities
The review uncovered a litany of systemic errors. Crucially, a council worker attempted a welfare visit to a wrong address on August 7, just one day before Sara was beaten with a metal pole by her father. She had been withdrawn from school by Sharif in April 2023 and had 'effectively disappeared from view'.
The review stated that an old address remaining on the digital system led to the failed visit. Had the council's own policy of conducting a home visit within 10 days of home education being reported been followed, the abuse 'would have come to light'.
This failure was the latest in a long line of missed chances to save Sara. She was known to child services even before her birth. In 2019, after Sharif made allegations against Olga, Sara was placed in the care of her father and stepmother—a duo the review described as a 'lethal combination' who 'should never have been trusted'.
Text messages revealed that the abuse began soon after she moved in. The court process that granted custody to Sharif and Batool did not maintain a 'sufficient focus' on Sara's safety, the report found.
Warning Signs Ignored
There were multiple visible signs of abuse that were not properly investigated. In March 2023, Sara returned to school after a two-day absence 'quiet and coy' with bruising to her cheek, eye, and chin. While the school made a referral, the case was closed within days without police involvement.
In a disturbing manipulation, Sharif lied to a social worker, claiming Sara's many marks were from machinery used when she was born prematurely—information the review confirmed was false.
Furthermore, Sara began wearing a hijab in 2021, aged eight, which the review concluded was used to hide bruising and injuries. The report noted that while the school showed 'appropriate curiosity', children's services failed to properly consider that it was 'highly unusual' for such a young child in her family to wear one, as no other family members did.
The review's final conclusion was damning: 'opportunities were lost to join up all the dots and recognise the dangers faced by Sara.'
Accountability and a Promise of Change
In response to the report, council chief executive Terence Herbert said the situation was 'devastating' and that the council was 'deeply sorry'. He confirmed that 'robust action' was already being taken to implement all recommendations.
Surrey police described the case as 'one of the most shocking and tragic' they have ever investigated. A statement from Downing Street confirmed the government would 'consider this report closely and implement the recommendations fully' to help ensure no child is left 'invisible' to protective services.
For Olga Domin, the apologies and promises are too late. She believes the decision to hand custody to her father cost Sara her life, telling The Times, 'It would have been so much better [in foster care]. She'd still be alive.'
