Judge warns of danger for vulnerable children being homeschooled

THE murder of Sara Sharif "starkly illustrates the dangers" of parents automatically being able to homeschool their children, the judge sentencing her killers warned.

- Paul Jeeves

The 10-year-old had been pulled out of school just months before her death, in a "ruse adopted for wholly selfish purposes" to cover up evidence of her beatings.

Sara, whose battered body was discovered at her home in Woking, Surrey, in August last year, was removed by her family, despite teachers noticing marks on her face and referring her to social services.

Homeschooling her allowed the abuse at the hands of her father Urfan Sharif and stepmother Beinash Batool to carry on "beyond the gaze of the authorities", said Mr Justice Cavanagh yesterday.

Their life sentences were imposed as the Government introduced a Bill to Parliament promising to strengthen safeguards for children.