Two inmates accused of trying to murder Urfan Sharif, the father convicted of killing 10-year-old Sara Sharif, have denied the charges over an alleged attack inside HMP Belmarsh.
Steven Sansom, 47, and Adam Watson, 39, appeared at the Old Bailey on Wednesday, September 23, by separate video links from Wakefield jail. Both pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and to wounding Sharif with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
They also denied charges relating to the alleged unauthorised possession of two offensive weapons in prison—a tin lid and a pen attached to a handle.
The case concerns an incident on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2025, at HMP Belmarsh in south-east London, where Sharif was serving a life sentence for the murder of his daughter.
Alleged attack inside a prison cell
The prosecution case alleges that Sansom lured Sharif into a cell where Watson was waiting.
Watson is accused of grabbing Sharif and repeatedly punching him before Sansom allegedly applied pressure to his throat.
It is further alleged that Watson then handed an object to Sansom, who used it to make cutting motions towards Sharif’s throat.
Prison officers subsequently entered the cell and found Sharif on the floor, bloodied and distressed, with injuries to his face, mouth and neck. The alleged weapon has been described in earlier reports as a jagged section of a tuna can.
The Metropolitan Police previously said they were investigating an allegation that a prisoner had been assaulted at Belmarsh and confirmed that the 43-year-old victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
The two defendants deny the allegations and are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Trial scheduled for next year
At Wednesday’s hearing, Judge Lynn Tayton KC remanded both men in custody and set a two-week trial to begin on July 19 next year.
A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for June 21.
The prosecution had previously charged Sansom and Watson with attempted murder following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police. The Crown Prosecution Service said prosecutors had worked closely with police before concluding there was sufficient evidence to bring the case to court.
Because the proceedings remain active, prosecutors have stressed that the defendants are entitled to a fair trial and that reporting should not prejudice the case.
Urfan Sharif’s life sentence
Sharif is currently serving a life sentence for the murder of his daughter Sara, who was found dead at the family home in Woking, Surrey, on August 10, 2023.
The 10-year-old had suffered extensive injuries after a prolonged period of abuse. During the murder trial, the court heard that Sara had been repeatedly beaten, burned, bitten and restrained.
Sharif, his wife Beinash Batool and Sara’s uncle Faisal Malik fled to Pakistan with Sara’s siblings after her death. They were later arrested after returning to the UK.
Sharif was convicted of Sara’s murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 40 years. Batool was also jailed for life, with a minimum term of 33 years.
Malik, who was cleared of murder, was convicted of causing or allowing Sara’s death and sentenced to 16 years in prison.
The murder trial heard extensive evidence about the abuse suffered by Sara before her death. The judge described the level of cruelty involved as extremely serious, while the prosecution said the child had endured prolonged pain and suffering.
Prison attack adds another chapter to the case
The alleged Belmarsh assault took place while Sharif was already serving his sentence for Sara’s murder.
According to the allegations presented in court, the attack involved two prisoners, a confined cell and makeshift weapons, leaving Sharif with injuries to his face, mouth and neck.
However, the circumstances and motivation behind the alleged attack have not yet been established at trial.
Sansom and Watson will now remain in custody ahead of their scheduled trial next July, when the allegations against them are expected to be examined in full.