The “inhumane” violence inflicted on Sara Sharif was “completely normalized” in the family, with all three adults “involved”, jurors heard.

Taxi driver Urfan Sharif, 42, his wife Beinash Batool, 30, and brother Faisal Malik, 29, are accused of taking part in years-long abuse that culminated in his death in August last.

The 10-year-old child was found dead at the family home in Wake up, Surreythe day after the accused fled to Pakistan, the Old Bailey heard.

She suffered dozens of injuries, including multiple fractures, bites, iron and boiling water burns, and signs she was hooded and bound with duct tape, the Old Bailey heard.

During his testimony, Sharif initially blamed Sara’s death on Batool, but on the seventh day, on the witness stand, he told jurors he took “full responsibility.”

During six days of evidence at the Old Bailey, Mr Sharif claimed he did not hurt his daughter, was regularly at work and caught Ms Batool tying up and beating his daughter.

On Thursday, Michael Ivers KC, on behalf of Mr Malik, began by asking: “For an entire week, you tried to blame someone else for what you did?” “. “Yes sir,” Mr. Sharif replied.

“It’s not just that you lied, you lied and then tried to implicate someone else,” Mr Ivers KC continued. “Yes, sir,” Mr. Sharif said.

Under cross-examination for the prosecution, William Emlyn Jones KC claimed that Sara was repeatedly beaten in front of Ms Batool and that all three adults in the house were involved in looking after the children.

Referring to a video played before jurors showing a family barbecue, where Sara visibly had a black eye, the prosecutor suggested that violence against the little girl had been “normalized” within the family and that the pain had been used as a “deterrent for children”. be naughty.”

Mr Emlyn Jones said violence towards Sara had become “completely normalized in this house. It had become acceptable. It was her life to be beaten, hurt, punished.

He referenced a video shown to jurors of Sara at a barbecue saying none of the adults present had “blinked an eye” at her black eye.

The “revolting” practice of tying Sara up with packing tape had become an alternative method of punishing her when Sharif was not at home, the prosecutor said.

“It’s inhumane, isn’t it, Mr. Sharif?” You can’t bring yourself to admit it. The question is: who does it?

“My suggestion is that everyone should participate. Otherwise, someone else will destroy it.

Mr. Emlyn Jones continued: “You are a coward, aren’t you, Mr. Sharif? Sharif replied: “I am a coward, sir. »

“He is only a coward who bullies and beats a little child to feel strong,” the prosecutor added, to which Sharif agreed: “Yes sir.”

Sharif also admitted that he beat his daughter after she soiled herself or vomited, which had become a regular occurrence in the last months of his life.

He had no answers as to how her daughter and another child suffered similar household iron burns and human bites.

Mr Ivers said: “What are the chances that two children you are involved with will end up with iron burns and bite marks? »

Mr. Sharif replied: “I was not blamed for that. It wasn’t me. I didn’t bite.

Mr. Ivers said: “Of course it’s not a coincidence, you are the common denominator. Did you tell anyone to do this? Did you have any idea how she (Sara) should be punished? Is this the truth in all this?

Sharif replied: “There are some things I cannot explain. I have no words.

Earlier, the defendant admitted he had a “credibility issue” because he had not told the jury the truth during his previous testimony.

Mr Ivers said: “The oath you took on your holy book meant nothing. Your jury walked by you for a whole week, looked at you and you looked at them, right? And when you started crying at times, was it real or not? When your eyes widened, was it an act?

Mr Sharif said: “It was real. I lost my daughter.

Mr Ivers suggested Mr Sharif was not mourning his daughter but was seeking to tell a “bunch of lies” to the court.

Pressed on how Sara reacted to being hit with a bat, Sharif said: “She must have suffered. »

Mr Sharif, Ms Batool and Mr Malik, formerly of Hammond Road, Woking, Surrey, deny murder and causing or allowing Sara’s death and the trial continues.