He allegedly stated that he “punished her legally”. the father of 10-year-old Sara Sharifwho was found dead in her bed and severely beaten, according to evidence presented by the prosecutor at the trial over the girl’s death, which has begun according to the BBC.

The father of 10-year-old Sarah Sharif called police from Pakistan and admitted killing her at their Surrey home, a court heard.

THE Urfan Sharif he made the confession in an eight-minute call about an hour after his family’s flight landed in Islamabad on August 10 last year, before Sarah’s body was found.

Urfan, 42, Sarah’s stepmother Beinash Batool, 30, and her uncle Faisal Malik, 29, denied murdering the girl.

On Monday at the Old Bailey, jurors were told Mr Sharif’s case was that his wife, Mrs Batool, was responsible for Sara’s death and his confession in the phone call and also in a note were false to protect her .

Sarah was abused for weeks

Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones KC told the court Sara was victim of violent attacks for “many weeks”.

He said Sarah had dozens of injuries, external and internal, bruises, burns and broken bonesold and new.

Sharif called Surrey police from Pakistan where the family had fled before her body was found and said he had killed his daughter.

The prosecutor said that in the call, which lasted eight minutes and 34 seconds, Sharif confessed that he “lawfully punished her” and died.

Later in the call to the police, Sara’s father said that Sara was naughty and that he then hit heras jurors heard.

“It wasn’t my intention to kill her, but I hit her too hard” said Mr. Sharif.

However, Mr Elwyn Jones KC added: “Sara hadn’t just been beaten up. Her treatment, certainly in the last weeks of her life, was horrific and brutal».

The court also heard that next to Sarah’s body was a note in Urfan Sharif’s hand.

Mr Elwyn Jones KC said it read: “Whoever sees this note, I am Urfan Sharif who killed my daughter by beating. I’m running because I’m scared but I promise I’ll surrender and be punished.

“I swear to God my intention was not to kill her».

Mr Elwyn Jones KC added: “As with the 999 call, on the face of it, the note appears to be a confession that he caused Sara’s death by beating her».

She wasn’t sleeping, she was dead

Jurors also heard at the trial that police found Sarah’s body on a bunk bed under her covers as if she had been asleep.

“AWell she wasn’t sleeping, she was dead” Mr Jones KC told the jury.

The three defendants, who lived with Sarah before her death in August last year, are also charged with causing or allowing the death of a child, which they deny.

Mr Elwyn Jones KC added that each defendant sought to “put the blame” on one or both of the others.

The prosecution said it was “inconceivable” that any of the adults could have committed the abuse “without the complicity, participation, aid and encouragement of others».

“None of them ever reported Sarah’s abuse to any outside agency that could have intervened” added Mr Elwyn Jones KC.

The trial continues.