Two men have been charged over what is understood to be the attempted murder in prison of Urfan Sharif, who is serving a life sentence for murdering his 10-year-old daughter Sara.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced the charges against Steven Sansom, 47, and Adam Watson, 39, after an incident at Belmarsh prison in London.
The pair are due to appear at Westminster magistrates court on 26 August.
The Press Association news agency reported that the incident involved Sharif, who was sentenced in December 2024 to a minimum of 40 years in prison for the murder of his daughter.
The CPS did not mention Sharif in its announcement of the arrests.
Daren Streeter, a deputy chief prosecutor at the CPS, said: “The Crown Prosecution Service has decided to charge Steven Sansom and Adam Watson with attempted murder in connection to an incident at HMP Belmarsh in January 2025.
“Our prosecutors have worked closely with the Metropolitan police to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to court and pursue criminal proceedings.
“We remind all concerned that proceedings against the defendants are active and they have the right to a fair trial. It is vital that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information which could in anyway prejudice these proceedings.”
It is understood the charges relate to an incident on 1 January 2025 in which Sharif was allegedly ambushed in a cell at the category A jail by two prisoners armed with the jagged lid of a tuna tin.
The Metropolitan police previously said officers were investigating “an allegation that a prisoner was assaulted at Belmarsh”, adding that “the 43-year-old suffered non-life-threatening injuries”.
At the time the Sun reported that Sharif suffered cuts to his neck and face and received medical treatment inside the prison.
Sharif and Sara’s stepmother, Beinash Batool, were jailed after years of abuse that culminated in the 10-year-old’s murder. Sara’s uncle, Faisal Malik, 29, was sentenced to 16 years for causing or allowing her death.
The three fled to Pakistan with Sara’s five siblings the day before her body was found and were there for four weeks. They were arrested on their return to the UK.
During the trial at the Old Bailey in 2024, the court heard that Sara suffered “unimaginable pain, misery and anxiety” as she was repeatedly beaten, burned, bitten and restrained at the family home in Woking, Surrey.
Justice Cavanagh told the court the “degree of cruelty involved is almost inconceivable”.
