A neighbour has told the BBC Sara Sharif was being home schooled at the time of her death
By Tanya Gupta, Bob Dale & Helena Wilkinson
BBC News
A 10-year-old girl was seen in school with cuts and bruises to her face months before she was found dead at her home, a neighbour has said.
The woman learned about the injuries to Sara Sharif from her own daughter, who was one of the girl’s classmates.
Sara’s father, his brother and his partner flew to Pakistan before Sara was found in Woking, Surrey, on 10 August.
Post-mortem tests found Sara sustained “multiple and extensive injuries”.
‘Fallen off bike’
The former neighbour, who asked only to be identified as Jessica, told the BBC Sara had been a happy and confident child who always skipped to school.
But after Sara was found dead, Jessica’s daughter told her mother that in April Sara had gone to St Mary’s primary school in Byfleet with clearly visible injuries.
“Just before the Easter holidays she was in school and had cuts and bruises on her face and her neck,” Jessica said.
“My daughter had asked what had happened and she said she’d fallen off a bike and then kind of walked away.
“The next day the teacher announced she had left school and she was being home-schooled.”
She said it was about that time that the Sharif family moved to Woking, about a 20-minute drive away.
Jessica said she never saw Sara at the school again and neighbours in Woking also said they did not see the child go to school.
Tributes have been left at the family home in Woking
Earlier, another neighbour said Sara had been removed from school and was being educated at home.
The woman, who did not want to be named, told the BBC that Sara’s father’s partner, Beinash Batool, had told her the girl was being home schooled after being bullied for wearing a hijab.
“I suggested to Beinash that Sara needed to be with children her own age,” said the neighbour. “She replied that she was making friends at the mosque and in her swimming lessons.
“Another time I remarked to Beinash that it must be difficult to home school Sara, especially as she had the baby to look after. She said it was very easy as she used BBC Bitesize.”
The neighbour said Sara seemed a “reserved and quiet” child.
“She often carried the baby in her arms, and sometimes I saw her playing with him. I never saw her smile or laugh.”
Image source, Handout
Sara’s father Urfan Sharif and his partner Beinash Batool are sought by police
Surrey Police officers are working with the authorities in Pakistan to locate Ms Batool, Sara’s father Urfan Sharif and his brother Faisal Malik.
Surrey County Council and police have confirmed the authorities had contact with the family, with the police describing their interaction as “limited” and “historic”.
A post-mortem examination failed to establish the exact cause of Sara’s death, with more tests being carried out.
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