Two inmates, Steven Sansom, 47, and Adam Watson, 39, will face trial next year after they denied trying to murder Urfan Sharif, the father of schoolgirl Sara Sharif, inside a prison cell. The alleged attack took place at HMP Belmarsh on New Year’s Day 2025. According to prosecutors, Watson punched Sharif multiple times, while Sansom pressed on his throat and made slashing motions with an object. When prison officers entered the cell, they found Sharif bloodied, distressed, and lying on the floor with injuries to his face, mouth, and neck. Sansom and Watson appeared at the Old Bailey for a plea hearing via videolink from Wakefield jail. Both men denied charges of attempted murder and wounding Sharif with intent to cause him serious harm. They also denied possessing two offensive weapons in prison—a tin lid and a pen attached to a handle—without authorization. Judge Lynn Tayton KC scheduled a two-week trial for 19 July next year and ordered the serving prisoners to be held in custody until then. A pre-trial hearing is set for 21 June to prepare for the trial. Urfan Sharif and Sara’s stepmother, Beinash Batool, from Woking in Surrey, were each sentenced to life in prison in December for years of severe abuse and torture that led to the 10-year-old girl’s murder. Sharif received a minimum term of 40 years, while Batool was given a minimum of 33 years. The current case involves a separate incident in prison, not directly related to Sara’s death, but involving the same individual, Urfan Sharif.